I still remember the day my husband and I bought our first home. We were filled with excitement as we picked up the keys, opened the door, and stepped into an empty house that held so much possibility. Like so many families, we filled that home with memories: the first meal that didn’t quite turn out as planned, our first Christmas, weekends spent tackling DIY projects, and all the ordinary moments that became part of our story. Years later, handing those keys to someone else was bittersweet, because we weren’t just leaving a house, we were saying goodbye to a chapter of our lives.

A home is more than four walls and a roof. It is where families grow, where traditions begin, where children feel safe, and where neighbors become friends. Every hardworking family deserves the opportunity to experience that sense of security, pride, and possibility.

Michigan’s housing shortage is one of the biggest challenges facing our state, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every community is different, and that’s why I believe we need practical, flexible policies that give local leaders the tools to address their own housing needs instead of single-solution mandates from Lansing.

I support common-sense incentives that encourage communities to modernize their zoning when it makes sense for them, rather than state mandates that remove local decision-making. For example I support the Housing Readiness Incentive (HRI) Grant Program which gives townships, cities and local governments financial support to modernize local zoning and land use plans. Michigan is a diverse state, with growing suburbs, rural townships, and small towns that each face unique housing challenges. The best solutions are built in partnership with local communities, not imposed upon them.

As a State Representative, I would work to reward communities that take proactive steps to expand housing opportunities while preserving the character that makes their places unique. Incentive-based programs can encourage thoughtful planning without taking away local control.

I believe in a layered approach to addressing Michigan’s housing challenges. That means combining thoughtful zoning reform, smart infrastructure investments, responsible tax incentives, and modern building policies to expand housing opportunities while respecting local communities. The Housing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) under Act 381 is one example of how we can support responsible growth without the one size fits all state mandates.

Invest in infrastructure – Housing and infrastructure must also go hand in hand. If we want to build more homes for future generations, we need to invest in the roads, water systems, sewer capacity, and public infrastructure that make responsible growth possible. Prioritizing infrastructure funding alongside new housing development will help create safer, stronger communities for decades to come.

Provide local incentives - I also believe local governments should have greater flexibility to offer targeted, temporary property tax incentives that encourage the rehabilitation of blighted properties and support housing projects that fit their long-term community plans. Revitalizing existing neighborhoods is often just as important as building new ones.

Update regulations - To address the rising cost of construction, we should continue reviewing our zoning regulations and building codes to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs while maintaining safety and quality. Working alongside local officials, builders, and industry experts, we can modernize outdated regulations and make it easier to build the homes Michigan families need.

Prioritize workforce housing - We should also continue investing in workforce housing through strategic state tax credits and gap funding that helps move quality housing projects from the planning stage to completion. Solving Michigan’s housing shortage will require partnerships between state government, local communities, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations. I come from a working-class background, and I understand how deeply families rely on housing they can afford. For too long, we have been told that economic growth at the top will eventually trickle down to working families, but too many people are still struggling with rising housing costs and limited options.

No single policy or political party is going to solve a housing shortage of more than 100,000 homes. Real progress will come from collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to work together on practical solutions.

We can create more pathways to homeownership, support workforce housing, revitalize existing neighborhoods, and protect seniors and longtime homeowners from unnecessary tax burdens. By working together, we can make housing more attainable while preserving the communities that make Michigan such a great place to call home.

ROCKFORD, Mich., August 5, 2026 — Following Lynn Afendoulis’ victory in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 90th House District, Rachel Crowther, Democratic candidate for the same seat, is reaffirming her commitment to bringing a new generation of leadership to Lansing, leadership focused on protecting local communities, restoring trust in government, and putting people ahead of corporate interests.

“For too long, politics in Lansing has been shaped by those with the biggest checks, and the most influence behind closed doors,” said Crowther. “I believe the people of HD90 deserve a representative whose first responsibility is to the residents who live here, not corporate donors, special interests, or political insiders.”

This election represents a choice between the politics of the past and a new approach built on independence, accountability, and local voices.

Crowther has made clear that she will not accept corporate money and believes Michigan needs stronger protections to ensure elected officials are accountable to voters not wealthy donors or powerful special interests.

As a local township trustee, Crowther has listened directly to residents concerned about the impacts of rapid development, including strain on infrastructure, energy demands, water resources, and the character of the communities they love. She supports a thoughtful approach that puts local decision-making and community protections first, including a statewide twelve month moratorium on data centers to give Michigan time to establish responsible standards.

Rachel Crowther’s campaign is built around a simple belief: government works best when it works for the people.

As a small business owner, township trustee, and longtime community leader, Crowther has spent her career bringing people together, solving problems, and creating opportunities. She believes public service should be about listening, showing up, and delivering results. Not partisan talking points that do not deliver for the residents of HD90.

Rachel Crowther is running to bring a new voice to Lansing, one grounded in community, independent leadership, and a commitment to putting people first.

About Rachel Crowther
Rachel Crowther is a small business owner, award winning hospitality professional, Courtland Township Trustee, community advocate, and candidate for Michigan’s 90th House District. A longtime resident of the Rockford area, Rachel has dedicated her career to serving others through hospitality, education, entrepreneurship, and public service. To learn more about Rachel Crowther visit www.rachelcrowthermi.com

Spectrum/Charter’s recent fiber expansion in northern Kent County, including Courtland Township where I serve as Trustee, will connect approximately 850 additional homes and businesses. However, thousands of rural households are still estimated to lack reliable broadband access, particularly in our northern HD90 townships.

For many small businesses, unreliable internet means lost sales, fewer online opportunities, barriers to using modern technology, and a harder path to growth and competition in today’s economy.

As your next State House Representative, I will support continued investments in rural broadband and legislation that strengthens House Bill 4287 by adding provisions that address affordability and permit streamlining.

Every family deserves access to telehealth, online learning, and remote work opportunities. Every entrepreneur, farmer, and small business deserves the tools to succeed, regardless of their ZIP code.

Broadband isn’t just about internet access - it’s about economic development, educational opportunity, and keeping northern Kent County connected for generations to come.

I’ll work to make sure all our neighbors, farmers, and small businesses have access to the tools and resources they need.

I believe the MiCare Act raises important questions about how we guarantee healthcare as a public good. As your State Representative, I would work with healthcare providers, patients, businesses, and my colleagues in both parties to explore how Michigan can build a system that provides universal access while protecting quality and supporting local hospitals.

In Lansing I’ll fight to put people before corporate profits, strengthen our local healthcare system, and ensure every family has the opportunity to live a healthier life.

I’m focused on getting things done. That means expanding access to local healthcare by investing in community health centers, rural healthcare, and mental health services so every Michigander can get care closer to home. That means working across party lines to find sensible solutions to solve food insecurity, mental health access.

One way to lower healthcare costs is by supporting SB 3/HB 4544 to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and SB 973–977 to create a Michigan-based insurance marketplace with a reinsurance program that could reduce premiums by 10–15%.

And supporting our healthcare workforce by backing HB 5455, expanding training opportunities, and making it easier for qualified doctors, nurses, therapists, and behavioral health professionals to serve Michigan communities.

Too often, politicians tell us healthcare is solely an individual responsibility while insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations continue to report record profits. Until our federally elected officials start making decisions that support the people over corporations I will fight to ensure Michigan is doing everything in our power to lower costs for Michiganders.

That means investing in prevention, mental health, clean water, education, parks and recreation, and local economies that give families stability and dignity.

A healthier Michigan starts by investing in each other.

MI House District 90 State Representative Candidate Rachel Crowther Calls for Stronger Oversight of Data Centers to Protect Kent County’s Water and Communities

ROCKFORD, Mich., June 8, 2026 — As corporations move aggressively to develop datacenters across Michigan, West Michigan communities are facing decisions with lasting consequences for residents, natural resources, and local infrastructure.

For decades, families in Rockford, Plainfield, and Algoma Townships have lived with the fallout of the PFAS crisis. Residents lost trust in the water coming out of their taps, and these communities have spent years dealing with the environmental failures they did not create.

“The lesson here isn’t complicated,“ said Rachel Crowther, candidate for State Representative District 90. “When governments fail to ask hard questions and regulate an emerging industry before approving development, our families, kids, and grandkids will pay the price for generations.“

As discussions continue about bringing data centers and AI-related infrastructure to West Michigan, Crowther says local leaders must proceed cautiously.

“Do data centers bring economic opportunity? Maybe. But they also place significant demand son water, energy, and local infrastructure,“ Crowther said. “This is not simply a conversation about zoning, manufacturing, or technology. It is a conversation about protecting our local ecosystems and preserving the quality of life that makes our communities special.“

Crowther stressed that communities already impacted by groundwater contamination cannot afford to take a “build first, ask questions later” approach.

“I support innovation and economic growth, but I refuse to ask our neighborhoods to shoulder unknown risks while large corporations pocket the profits,“ she said. “Before any data center or large-scale industrial facility receives state incentives or local approval, it must prove it will not harm our communities.“

Crowther is calling for three key protections:

Independent Environmental Studies: These include full reviews of impacts on local aquifers, ongoing monitoring of residential wells, and strong protections for the Rogue River, Grand River, and surrounding watersheds.

Full Disclosure of Chemicals Used: Companies must fully disclose chemicals used in cooling systems and industrial processes, provide transparent waste disposal plans, and be held financially responsible for any future contamination. If a company pollutes, it should pay for the cleanup, not taxpayers.

Resident Engagement: Residents deserve a meaningful voice in public hearings, complete transparency regarding water and energy demands, and guarantees that local taxpayers will not be forced to subsidize infrastructure for private developments. Local governments remain the first line of defense in protecting community interests.

Crowther also expressed support for bipartisan legislation introduced in Lansing that would temporarily pause new data center development while the state evaluates long-term impacts on communities and infrastructure. The legislation, Senate Bills 1018-1020 and House Bills5594-5596, would establish a one-year moratorium on new data center projects, allowing policymakers and local governments time to study impacts on Michigan’s electrical grid, water resources, land use, and local communities.

“We’ve already seen the devastating cost of delayed action and weak oversight,“ Crowther said. “We learned that lesson the hard way with PFAS. We shouldn’t have to learn it again. These bipartisan bills provide an opportunity to slow down, ask the right questions, and ensure we are protecting residents before approving projects that could have consequences for decades.“

As State Representative, Crowther — who runs her own business in Rockford and is a Courtland Township trustee — pledged to advocate for responsible growth that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and local control.

“I want a strong Michigan economy, affordable housing and sustainable job growth, but never at the expense of the clean water our children drink,“ Crowther said.

“The people of Kent County deserve growth that is sustainable, transparent, and fair. Let’s build a future we can actually be proud to pass down.“

Rachel Crowther is a small business owner, community leader, and elected official who is running for State Representative for Michigan’s House District 90. As a current Courtland Township Trustee and longtime community volunteer, she has built a record of thoughtful leadership grounded in transparency, accountability, and collaboration. Her service includes roles with the Rockford Area Community Foundation, Rockford’s Got Talent fundraiser, the Courtland Township Parks Committee, Experience Grand Rapids, and the Kent County Lodging Association.