Steve Marino (politician)

Steven F. Marino[1] (born March 24, 1989, in Detroit, Michigan) is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He is serving in his third term and represents the 24th District.

Not to be confused with the professional golfer or American football coach of the same name.

Steve Marino
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 24th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2017
Preceded byAnthony G. Forlini
Macomb County Commissioner from the 10th district
In office
January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2016
Preceded byMichael A. Boyle
Succeeded byRobert Leonetti
Personal details
Born (1989-03-24) March 24, 1989
Detroit, Michigan
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceHarrison Township, Michigan
EducationMichigan State University (BA)

Marino and spent much of his early life in nearby Harrison Township.[2] Marino attended L’Anse Creuse High School and Michigan State University, where he graduated with degrees in Economics, Public Policy and Public Administration, and Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy.[3] In 2014, Marino was as a Macomb County commissioner.[4]

2016 election

Anthony G. Forlini, the representative of District 24 did not seek-reelection because of term limit restrictions. Steve Marino, 27 at the time, secured more than 75% (4,991) of the 6,274 votes cast in the August 2 Republican primary election for the position, securing his nomination.[5] His opponent, Dana Camphous-Peterson, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[6] In the November 8 election, Marino received 23,968 votes (55.07%) while Camphous-Peterson received 19,553 votes (44.93%).[7]

Marino gained negative media attention in 2016 after Michigan Democrats released a series of short audio recordings of Marino telling a series of fabricated stories to Democratic activists who he believed to be constituents, including one which Jewish news organizations characterized as antisemitic in nature.[8][9] Marino retracted his statements and apologized stating the stories were "Lansing urban legends" and he "was just trying to illustrate some of the silliness" that took place in the state's capital.[10]

In other secretly taped recordings, Michigan Democrats alleged that Marino defended outsourcing US jobs abroad to nations with fewer labor regulations; "Its easier for us just to move our plant to India...where materials are 1/100th of the cost and we can have people 10 and 12 years old working."[11][12] While liberal organizations criticized the comments, alleging that they constituted support of child labor, Marino stated his words were taken out of context, and he was merely "discussing the tragedy of outsourcing American jobs overseas."[13][14]

The recordings played a major part in Marino's 2016 election bid.[15][14]

2018 election

Marino ran unopposed in the Republican primary, as did Laura Winn in the Democratic primary.[6] In the November 6 election, Marino received 21,391votes (55.54%), while his opponent, Winn received 17,125 votes (44.46%).[16]

2021 investigation

In 2021, amid Michigan State Police investigations into allegations of domestic abuse by Marino against Democratic Representative Mari Manoogian, House Speaker Jason Wentworth removed Marino from his committee assignments, including the Commerce and Tourism Committee where he served as chair and the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee.[17][18]

References
  1. "Michigan Committee Statement of Organization". Michigan Secretary of State. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  2. "Legislator Details - Legislators". mdoe.state.mi.us. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  3. "Steve Marino, District 24 - Michigan House Republicans". Michigan House Republicans. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  4. "Michigan Manual 2017-2018" (PDF). Michigan Legislature. MI Legislative Services Bureau. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  5. "Marino wins big in state House primary". Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  6. "Steve Marino - Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  7. "2016 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/08/2016". mielections.us. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  8. "GOP hopeful apologizes for made-up tale of Jew and money". Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  9. "Michigan Republican Sorry for Tall Tale About Jewish Wedding Bar Tab". The Forward. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  10. "House candidate Steve Marino retracts claims from secret recordings". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  11. "GOP wraps up key districts in Macomb Co". Detroit News. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  12. "Macomb state rep candidate boasts about ploy to reduce property taxes". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  13. Hotts, Mitch. "Marino defends outsourcing in secretly-made audio recording". Macomb Daily. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  14. "Bare-knuckle politics surfaces in Macomb County legislative races". Detroit News. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  15. "Audio recordings dominate key Macomb state House race". Detroit News. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  16. "2018 Michigan Unofficial General Election Results - 11/06/2018". mielections.us. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  17. "Michigan lawmaker Steve Marino accused of domestic abuse". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  18. "Michigan lawmaker mysteriously stripped of committee assignments - mlive.com". MLive. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
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