Latest news with #LARA
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rebuttal filed against Garnet Lewis' explanation of EPIC campaign finance complaint
SAUGATUCK — Six months after a complaint was submitted to the Michigan Bureau of Elections against an organization called EPIC operating in Saugatuck, there's been movement. In his complaint, filed in October 2024, former Saugatuck Mayor Ken Trester claimed EPIC hadn't filed a legal statement of organization (a requirement under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act), before posting campaign signage and newspaper advertisements for Saugatuck City Council incumbents Lauren Stanton, Helen Baldwin and Scott Dean. An address listed for EPIC on the signage matched an address listed for "Empowering People Investing in Communities" on LARA, an online filing system for Michigan corporations. The directory lists Leigh G. Lewis (Garnet Lewis) as president and resident agent. At the time, the Allegan County Clerk's Office confirmed to The Sentinel that EPIC had not filed the required statement. More: State investigating election claims against Garnet Lewis-directed nonprofit in Saugatuck In March, the Michigan Bureau of Elections provided Trester with a copy of Lewis' response to the complaint, in which she took responsibility for the error. In her response, Lewis claimed, after realizing the statement of organization hadn't been submitted, one was filed with the Allegan County Clerk's Office in November and processed in December. Lewis also said the standard "error and omission notice" was received and signed in January 2025. "I understand there will be a fine for (the) delay," she wrote. Lewis told The Sentinel via email the fine was $1,000. 'The issue has been resolved and the campaign committee has been dissolved," she added. But that's not entirely true, according to Trester, who filed a rebuttal to Garnet's response on April 11. 'I wish to request that you do not accept (Lewis') application to dissolve EPIC,' Trester wrote. 'There are many unresolved issues regarding this Super PAC. In particular, (Lewis') response does not address EPIC's campaign spending during the local elections of 2022 or 2023. 'I ask that the BOE not allow EPIC to be dissolved until the migration of the campaign finance reports that (Lewis) did file are complete, so that the public, which has been denied the opportunity to see who EPIC's donors are and what its expenditures were, can have the opportunity to review those reports, to know who received funding from the PAC and if any irregularities occurred in the election campaigns.' Garnet refused to comment on the rebuttal to The Sentinel. "There is enough hate in the world," she said. "I won't add to it.' Lewis was first elected to Saugatuck City Council in November 2019. She secured re-election in November 2021 for a two-year term ending November 2023. Shortly after, Lewis was selected by council to serve as mayor for a one-year term, running through November 2022. This isn't the first time Lewis has run into election challenges. In August 2023, she pled guilty to a single charge of failing to report a violation on a nominating/initiative petition. In court, she admitted she failed to sign a petition sheet and didn't report it. Lewis agreed to pay $500 in fines and court fees, and was given a delayed sentence of six months. The case was later dismissed. She has also faced ire over the listing of several individuals as directors and officers of EPIC on LARA, several of whom denied holding the roles. In a letter sent to Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski and provided to The Sentinel, Mary Fechtig, Elizabeth Estes, Julie Ridl and Holly Leo wrote, "We write to clarify in no uncertain terms that none of the undersigned had any knowledge of the EPIC entity before seeing (a) Facebook post on Oct. 25, 2024. "In addition, none of us have any memory of agreeing to act as directors or officers of EPIC. Finally, after a review of our personal records, including emails, text, and hard copy materials, we can find no indication of any of us having involvement in (EPIC). " ... It goes without saying, therefore, that none of us have been involved in a decision related to EPIC's funding or other support of political candidates in the current race of Saugatuck City Council.' Dan Fox, another local resident, hopes to file a formal fraud complaint on that front, but is having difficulty finding the right department for enforcement. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage LARA, he said, doesn't have an enforcement role, and the Bureau of Elections wouldn't investigate because another investigation is already underway. The Michigan Attorney General's Office directed Fox to their Charitable Trust Division. In their response, the Charitable Trust Division said the matter falls outside the scope of their normal enforcement and regulatory authority. Fox isn't giving up, though. 'This lack of an appetite on the part of the State of Michigan to investigate and prosecute clear, evidence-supported, multiple fraudulent filings with the state is unbelievable, disheartening, and ethically vapid," he wrote via email. The rebuttal filed in the first complaint will enter a determination phase under the Board of Elections, which has 45 days to make a decision. — Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@ This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck residents want more answers on EPIC finance complaint
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
I'm a dentist suing Michigan over implicit-bias training — that says only some people can be racist
A former Michigan dentist is suing the state over an implicit-bias-training requirement for health-care professionals Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mandated after George Floyd's 2020 death — that declares only some people can be racist. 'Everybody needs to listen to Martin Luther King from way back in the day. It's who you are, not what color you are,' Dr. Kent Wildern exclusively told The Post. The Grand Rapids dentist of 40 years renounced his license in 2021 rather than take the ideological instruction required to keep it, explains the 14-page complaint, filed last week in the Michigan Court of Claims. Advertisement But he wants to return to the field. 'I like taking care of people,' he told The Post, noting he always provided free dental care to those in need. 8 Dr. Kent Wildern, who's suing Michigan, had to choose between his principles and his profession. Advertisement 'I'm 71. I've worked in the health-care industry since I was a boy. I worked at my dad's pharmacy at 9. I was an Eagle Scout by the time I was 13. I worked three summers as a lifeguard' at a Boy Scott camp. 'I worked at the pharmacy weekends and summers while I was in dental school,' he recalled. 'My wife and I had no money and no house. I drove a Gremlin that you couldn't get into except for the back hatch. I started my practice from scratch. That's just the way it was back then.' 8 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mandated all health-care professionals take the training after marching for Black Lives Matter. AP Advertisement Wildern is represented by the California-based Pacific Legal Foundation, a public-interest law firm that defends against government overreach. Wildern's lawyers believe the instruction required at every renewal is a classic example. On going to renew his license, 'state officials unleashed a proverbial kick in the teeth: a new implicit bias training mandate that forced Dr. Wildern to choose between his profession or his principles,' the firm said. 'This implicit bias training bothered me from day one, and I called the Michigan Dental Association and said, 'Why do we have to take this?' And they said, 'Because it's required by the governor,'' he told The Post. That wasn't good enough for Wildern: 'One day I said I've had it. I'm losing my license because I don't want to take this class.' Advertisement 8 One training module asks you these questions before — and again after — instruction. NetCE The suit targets Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, which handles occupational licensing in the state. David Hoffa, a Pacific Legal Foundation attorney on the case, said the training rule goes beyond LARA's purpose and powers. 'We just don't find that there's any lawful authority granted by the Legislature to LARA to make that type of rule in any of the statutes that either the governor or LARA has cited,' he told The Post. In July 2020 — two months after Floyd died during his arrest in Minneapolis and one month after Whitmer marched with Black Lives Matter — the Democratic governor issued Executive Directive 2020-7, 'Improving equity in the delivery of health care,' to achieve 'racial justice.' It ordered LARA to make rules that 'establish implicit bias training standards' as a requirement for 'licensure, registration, and renewal of licenses and registrations of health professionals.' 8 The same module says only some people are capable of racism. NetCE Garrett Soldano told The Post he's been 'kicking and screaming' against the training requirement ever since. Advertisement The Kalamazoo chiropractor led anti-lockdown protests that year, opposing Whitmer's 'nanny government.' 'It's another example of government overreach,' he said, 'hanging our license over our heads.' Soldano felt so strongly about Whitmer's reign that he ran for the right to face her, competing in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary but falling short to eventual nominee Tudor Dixon. 8 'It's another example of government overreach,' chiropractor Garrett Soldano said, 'hanging our license over our heads.' Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK Advertisement The trainings themselves — professionals have a few options to choose from, though they essentially stick to a standard script — treat bias as inevitable, only fixable with training. As one instruction module explains: 'Implicit biases can start as early as 3 years of age. As children age, they may begin to become more egalitarian in what they explicitly endorse, but their implicit biases may not necessarily change in accordance to these outward expressions.' But the training asserts only certain groups can be racist. 'Racism is the 'systematic subordination of members of targeted racial groups who have relatively little social power . . . by members of the agent racial group who have relatively more social power,' begins an explainer. Advertisement 8 Another offered training module suggests Western medicine has a 'potential for bias.' 'It's freaking garbage,' Soldano said. 'You're basically telling every health-care professional in the state of Michigan that they're racist and accusing us that we base our care schedule on racist bias.' Soldano said he knows others who followed Wildern's path out of their professions rather than take the trainings. 'But people like me who need this for putting food on the table?' Soldano said. Advertisement 'It's hard as hell to just take it, and every two years when I have to take that class, it just brings up the insanity of the pandemic and what she did.' 8 That course demands health-care professionals 'take intersectionality into account.' The requirement on the state's 400,000 health professionals took effect June 1, 2022, and affects a wide range of career fields, from acupuncture to midwifery to social work. Available trainings include 'What Is Systemic Racism?' and 'Impact of Racism on the Health & Well-Being of the Nation.' Hoffa called the requirement an ideologically driven barrier to Wildern's re-entry to the workforce. 'There's a right to earn a living side of this as well,' Hoffa said. 'This type of ideologically driven training is not the proper use of licensing requirements for professionals.' 8 David Hoffa said the Legislature hasn't granted any 'lawful authority' for the state to mandate this training. Pacific Legal Foundation President Trump signed executive orders his first day in office dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But Wildern's case will be decided in the Michigan court system, not federal court — which at the highest levels is run by Democratic judges and justices. Appeals would go to the Michigan Court of Appeals and finally to the Michigan Supreme Court. The latter ruled most of Whitmer's COVID orders unconstitutional in October 2020 but didn't include the training directive. That was a 4-3 ruling — now Democrat-leaning justices control the top court 6-1. 'This is going to probably go all the way to the state Supreme Court, and I don't have a lot of faith in them, and so that's why I'm hoping that Michigan's next governor overturns this bad boy and gets rid of it,' Soldano said. Michigan has fined noncompliant professionals between $125 and $2,500 and suspended some licenses. LARA did not respond to a request for comment.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Register A DBA In Michigan
Getty There are many reasons to set up a DBA in the state of Michigan. Perhaps you're an author wanting to operate strictly using your pen name. Alternatively, you have a small business and would prefer using a DBA to registering a second LLC. In any case, getting your DBA is a straightforward process. That said, it might be a little confusing for first-time applicants. Don't fret: We did the research for you to create this simple guide on filing your DBA in Michigan. A DBA, short for 'doing business as,' refers to an assumed name or alias under which you choose to do business. Sometimes DBAs get referred to as trade names or fictitious names. Within Michigan, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, or LARA, usually oversees DBA filing and registration. Even so, you'll want to familiarize yourself with county paperwork and filing fees for the location(s) your company will operate. Before applying for a DBA in Michigan, you might wonder if it's the best option for your business needs. Perhaps an LLC might be a more efficient option? Well, it generally depends. Do you want to: If you answered 'Yes' to any of the above, you should strongly consider registering a new DBA. With that said, if you want to: Then you might want to consider registering as an LLC or corporation. Below you'll find the series of steps necessary to register a Michigan fictitious name. If there's anything you're not sure about, always check with state sources. DBA filing fees tend to range between $10 to $16, depending on the county. To find out the correct fee amount, contact the County Clerk in the location where you intend to file. Go here for a list of county addresses. You may also be required to obtain certain licenses or permits, depending on your business type. Be sure to also visit the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website for details on what industries are regulated at the federal level, as well as their current fees. Below you'll find the series of steps necessary to register a Michigan fictitious name. If there's anything you're not sure about, always check with state sources. First, decide on an alias. You'll want to aim for a unique trade name that wouldn't be confused easily with an existing company. You can perform a Michigan business name search by visiting the official website. It's an often necessary step to avoid having your DBA rejected because it's already being used by another business. The form completion and submission processes will vary depending on the type of business entity applying for the DBA. Sole proprietor or co-partnership: Individual business owners or those with a general partnership should file a Certificate of Persons Conducting Business Under Assumed Name in every county where the brand will do business. Information to include on the form: LLCs, LLPs, and corporations: These businesses must register their DBAs on the state level with LARA. They have the option of completing the process online or downloading and submitting a Certificate of Assumed Name PDF form. Corporations and LLPs pay a $10 filing fee. Meanwhile, LLCs get charged $25. It's possible to expedite the process, but expect to pay extra fees. If you want your registration completed within an hour, for instance, be prepared to pay $1,000. If you don't mind waiting a day, the 24-hour expedition fee is a comparatively milder $200. To submit your documents in person, you can visit the following facility: Otherwise, mail your forms and payment to the following address: Adding an Assumed Name to an Insurance License: In this situation, send a completed Individual Insurance Licensee Registration or Cancellation of DBA form to the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). Like many states, a Michigan DBA registration doesn't last forever. After you successfully file, it's good for a period of up to five years. After that, you can keep your trade name by using the same registration process and paying the applicable fees. It's generally a good idea to check for any changes in fee amounts or forms. That way, you can avoid any confusion and continue to get the most out of your Michigan DBA. Forbes Advisor legal expert Jane Haskins, J.D. contributed to this article. An LLC can operate under its own name while also reserving one or more DBAs for professional use. These DBAs may be alternate versions of the existing LLC name or different pseudonyms altogether. Getting a DBA is often much less expensive than attempting to register an LLC or corporation. The pricing typically ranges from $10 to $100. It's best to contact county and state officials to determine an exact cost. It depends. Often pre-existing business names can only be used by one business at a time. In Michigan, county officials won't register a DBA that's already being used by another business in the county. However, the same name might be registered as a DBA elsewhere in the state. This could cause problems if you decide to expand in the future. Avoid the issue by doing a business name search and opting for something as unique as possible. DBAs and LLCs are two acronyms that often trip up budding entrepreneurs. A DBA is more or less a branding identity, while an LLC is a legal business entity. LLCs provide legal cover for your private assets by distinguishing them from business assets in the eyes of the court. DBAs, while providing you with an additional legal name, do not offer any liability shielding. Here's a deeper look at the differences between DBAs and LLCs. The rules regarding how long a DBA lasts vary by state, so you should check with your state's secretary of state or the agency with which you filed the DBA to see if a renewal is necessary and when it is due. In some states, such as New York there is no need to renew a DBA but other states have limits. In many states, you have five years before you need to renew or extend your DBA.
