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Lee Chatfield

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Lee Chatfield
Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 2019 – January 1, 2021
Preceded byTom Leonard
Succeeded byJason Wentworth
Speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 2017 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byTom Leonard
Succeeded byJason Wentworth
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 107th district
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2021
Preceded byFrank Foster
Succeeded byJohn Damoose
Personal details
Born
Lee Roberson Chatfield

(1988-05-25) May 25, 1988 (age 36)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseStephanie Chatfield
Children5
EducationNorthland International University (BA)
Liberty University (MPA)
Occupationpolitician
Family photo, 2020

Lee Roberson Chatfield (born May 25, 1988) is a former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. Chatfield, a Republican from Levering, served three terms as state representative from the 107th House district.[1]

Education

He has a bachelor's degree from Northland International University, and master's degree in public policy from Liberty University.[2]

Career

Rep. Chatfield hosts state legislators on a tour of the Soo Locks

Before his election to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, Lee was a high school teacher, coach and athletic director at Northern Michigan Christian Academy.[3]

Chatfield was re-elected to the state Legislature in 2016 with 67 percent of the vote,[3] and in 2018, with over 58 percent of the vote.

Firearms security violation

On July 15, 2018, Chatfield attempted to bring a loaded, unregistered handgun onto a commercial flight at Pellston Regional Airport.[4] He was fined $250 for failure to register his handgun, which he had purchased in December 2015.[5] He also paid a $1,960 fine from the Transportation Security Administration.[6] Chatfield had previously introduced a bill in the Michigan House of Representatives to make handgun registration voluntary.[7]

Lee Chatfield meets with residents during monthly office hours
Main article: Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot

On October 10, 2020, in a series of tweets directed at Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Chatfield questioned why members of the state legislature were not informed of the kidnapping and assassination plot against the governor, saying that members of the legislature and others on the State Capitol grounds may have also been at risk from violent actions. Zack Pohl, communications director for Whitmer, countered that Chatfield's father had organized a rally against the governor on the same day that the plot was revealed.[8] Similar rallies against the governor's COVID-19 public health actions had included two of the accused conspirators involved in the kidnapping plot, as confirmed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel via photographic evidence from a rally on April 30.[9] It was later revealed in federal court documents that the plot included "Plans B and C" which involved 200 combatants seizing control of the state Capitol and burning it down while lawmakers were locked inside, “leaving no survivors."

Role in 2020 presidential election

Main article: Attempt to dispute the apparent results of the 2020 United States Presidential Election

The New York Times reported that Chatfield, along with state senator Mike Shirkey, agreed to meet with President Donald Trump on November 20, 2020, against a backdrop of attempts by Trump and his campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.[10] Paul Mitchell, the US Representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district, speculated that the purpose of the meeting may have been to discuss the appointment of pro-Trump electors to the U.S. Electoral College.[11] However, Chatfield later issued a statement refusing to interfere in the results of the state election.[12]

Personal life

Lee married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie (Zondervan), and they have four sons and one daughter.

References

  1. ^ http://gophouse.org. "Lee Chatfield, District 107 - Michigan House Republicans". Michigan House Republicans. Retrieved 2018-03-14. {{cite news}}: External link in |last= (help)
  2. ^ "Lee Chatfield for State Representative". Lee Chatfield for State Representative. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  3. ^ a b "Lee Chatfield for State Representative". Lee Chatfield for State Representative. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  4. ^ szucker@petoskeynews.com, Steve Zucker (231) 439-9346. "Chatfield detained at airport after loaded gun found in carry-on". Petoskey News-Review.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ szucker@petoskeynews.com, Steve Zucker (231) 439-9346-. "State rep pays one fine, another to be determined". Petoskey News-Review.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Oosting, Jonathan. "Michigan House speaker pays $1,960 fine for gun incident at airport". Detroit News.
  7. ^ "Rep. Chatfield introduces bill to eliminate pistol registration mandate". Michigan House Republicans. April 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "Chatfield calls out Whitmer for not informing lawmakers of alleged plot". The Detroit News. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. ^ Rambaran, Vandana (9 October 2020). "Suspects in Whitmer plot photographed with long guns at Michigan Capitol". Fox News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  10. ^ Haberman, Maggie; Rutenberg, Jim; Corasaniti, Nick; Epstein, Reid J. (November 20, 2020). "Trump Targets Michigan in His Ploy to Subvert the Election" – via NYTimes.com.
  11. ^ Burke, Craig Mauger and Melissa Nann. "Top GOP state lawmakers set to visit White House amid election fight". The Detroit News.
  12. ^ https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2020/12/14/gop-leader-chatfield-says-states-electoral-college-must-vote-for-biden-or-we-would-lose-our-country-forever
Michigan House of Representatives
Preceded by Speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives
2017–2019 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
2019–present 		Incumbent
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