Pete Hoekstra to Participate in Forum at War Memorial

Pete Hoekstra brings his campaign for U.S. Senate to the on Tuesday, Nov. 15, where he speaks to the Eastside Republican Club Forum at 7 p.m.

Former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra grew up in western Michigan. When he was 3 years old he and his parents emigrated from the Netherlands to become citizens of the United States. He later graduated from Hope College and earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Hoekstra then launched a successful career at Herman Miller, Inc. of Zeeland -- a company frequently cited as one of the most admired in America and one of the nation’s best workplaces. Over his 15-year career at Herman Miller, he worked in product development, product management, and dealer development, eventually becoming marketing vice president.

His career at Herman Miller allowed Hoekstra to develop skills at the cutting edge of innovative management practices -- learning the concepts of participative management and team building in practical situations. These practices worked not only at Herman Miller, but also led to success in his public service career.

In one of Michigan’s major electoral upsets, Hoekstra defeated a 26-year Republican incumbent in the 1992 congressional primary by mounting a grassroots effort in which he was outspent at least 15 to 1. He served Michigan’s 2^nd congressional district from 1993-2010, and participated in developing the 1994 Contract with America that laid the foundation for Republican capture of the House for the first time in 40 years.

With the Republican leadership in Congress, he helped balance the budget for four years in the late 1990s, even with a Democratic president, and was instrumental in reforming the intelligence community in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. He also contributed to the 9/11 commission report.

Hoekstra has served on committees such as Education and Labor, Budget, and is perhaps best known as the ranking member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

He was founding chairman of the Education Freedom Caucus, and has continued to work for reform in education and government, advocating for increased flexibility for parents and states.

Currently a visiting Distinguished Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Hoekstra resides in Holland with Diane, his wife of 30 years. They have three children.

The Eastside Republican Club Forum is normally held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome.f