The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kayla M. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Take Action - Interview with Marty Knollenberg
I had the privilege of interviewing Representative Marty Knollenberg, who serves as Michigan state representative of the Troy/Clawson district. Working in his second term, Mr. Knollenberg is an active member of the Transportation, New Economy, and Commerce committees of the House of Representatives. I have paraphrased Mr. Knollenberg's responses to the following questions.
Q: What motivated you to seek your current position?
A: My desire to make a difference and to move our state in the right direction motivated me to pursue this field. I have also wanted to help others through the difficult economic times. As a small business owner, I felt a need for business owners in Lansing and believed I could contribute.
Q: What training do you think is important to prepare for your position?
A: Communication skills, patience and a willingness to listen are key to this field. In college, however, I majored in history with business and political science courses at Albion College. Instead of attending law school as I had planned, I got into the insurance business and started my own firm.
Q: What are the greatest rewards of your job?
A: The greatest rewards are the relationships with people I have met along the way. I have also enjoyed learning about the breadth of issues at hand, for every issue is important to someone. While passing a beneficial bill is rewarding, the greater reward comes from moving the state of Michigan in the right direction.
Q. What are your job's biggest challenges?
A: Working with legislators I don't agree with is a challenge. The struggle to convince others whose minds are already made up can be frustrating as well. For many legislators, their concern to keep constituent votes prevents them being open to new viewpoints.
Q: What role, if any, does faith play in your profession?
A: My faith plays an important role in my field, for this nation was founded on God's principles. I try to protect and maintain the God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Also, as a representative I have the responsibility to serve as a role model, setting a good example by making decisions founded on solid moral values.
As our interview closed, I asked Representative Knollenberg's advice on how to pursue a career in politics. He advised that I work on a political campaign this summer and apply for an internship with a legislator. I look forward to emulating his fruitful work in the political arena, and I appreciate Representative Knollenberg's insight about the field into which he has brought both passion and expertise.
