LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson officially launched her campaign for governor this week and it has already seen its share of “oops” moments and problems.

First, her campaign team announced on social media her intent to run, then deleted the post before reissuing it the following day. Then, Benson received pushback for violating campaign laws after announcing her candidacy in a government building.

“You are not qualified to be governor.”

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However, it’s not business as usual in Lansing. State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, who now chairs the House Oversight Committee, will be a critical piece of the checks-and-balances puzzle going forward. He says among the many issues his committee will look at include Benson’s candidacy announcement in a government building earlier this week.

“If you’re the Secretary of State for six-plus years and you don’t know you can’t use state assets in your campaign and that you should not bump up against the appearance of that impropriety, I would say you’re not qualified to be governor of Michigan,” DeBoyer said on The Steve Gruber Show on Friday. “You are either willfully ignorant or horribly arrogant and don’t believe the rules apply to you.”

This isn’t DeBoyer’s first rodeo. He sparred with Benson when he worked as a county clerk in 2020. “I came out and said she was breaking election law when she sent out unsolicited absentee voter applications to citizens. It is against the law to do that,” DeBoyer said. “But she did it and nothing happened. That’s what really gets people upset in the state of Michigan.”

“Tired of the double standards.”

In addition, Benson also faces a complaint from a private citizen for using public resources during a campaign announcement, which is against election law. Christian Charette, an election worker and former candidate for state representative, has filed the complaint. “Much like other Michigan residents, I’m tired of the double standards imposed by career politicians,” Charette told Michigan News Source. “Voters made themselves loud and clear in the 2024 election, and elected officials like Jocelyn Benson have refused to listen.”

 

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Since this complaint involves the secretary of state herself, Michigan law dictates that the complaint be reviewed by the attorney general. In addition, Charette said it is “unconscionable” that she will control the ballot and oversee her own election.

“What Michigan deserves is a gubernatorial candidate who prioritizes transparency, accountability, lower taxes, safer communities, and common sense,” Charette said. “That candidate is not Jocelyn Benson. Time and time again she held herself above the law. We don’t have to live this way.”

Full House.

In addition to investigating Benson, DeBoyer said the committee will also look at COVID-19 policies along with fraudulent or unqualified payouts through the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).

“We gave away $8 billion in unemployment benefits to people who should not have received them,” DeBoyer said. “That was never attempted to be clawed back by the UIA which to me is totally irresponsible with the taxpayers money.”

While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may have moved on from her disastrous COVID-19 policies, many Michiganders and DeBoyer have not.

“I would love to know the details of the health director that a got a ‘thank you and goodbye’ check out of Gretchen Whitmer during Covid,” DeBoyer said, referring to the abrupt departure of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon in February 2021. He received $155,506 as part of a separation agreement that he was not able to discuss.”

“[The committee] does not have an agenda. We have subpoena power,” DeBoyer said.