Courtesy Photo State Rep. for Northeast Michigan Cam Cavitt addresses his peers in Lansing. Cavitt said he expects to accomplish more in his second term now that Republicans have reclaimed the majority in the State House.

ALPENA — State Rep. for Northeast Michigan Cam Cavitt believes he will be able to make a larger impact in Lansing after being reelected last week because Republicans reclaimed the majority in the State House.

Cavitt defeated his Democratic challenger and Alcona County resident Trina Borenstein last week.

During the most recent election cycle Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, said he was proud of his record the last two years under Democratic control and has high hopes that he can accomplish more with more conservatives in the House.

“For me, it really is a game-changer in terms of what I should be able to do for the people in Northeast Michigan,” Cavitt said on Monday. “I was able to get several things across the finish line this term, but it should be easier when the Republicans take over the majority.”

Cavitt currently serves on the influential House Appropriations Committee, which handles the state budget. He also serves as the Republican vice chair on the Military and Veterans Affairs and State Police Appropriations subcommittee, and as a member on the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and Judiciary Appropriations subcommittees.

He said one of his goals this term is to become a chairman of one of the committees he is on now. Ideally, he said, he would like to chair the appropriations committee.

“I think it’s a safe bet I’ll be on the same committees, but I hope I can get the gavel in my hand for at least one committee,” Cavitt said. “If I can become the chair of appropriations, I would have a better chance of getting more money for projects in Northeast Michigan.”

Cavitt said one of his top priorities in his new term is to get funding for Michigan’s 106th State House District to use toward solving the current housing crisis.

He said there is a need for more housing of all types and getting investment from the state government locally will be key to addressing the issue.

“Housing, right now, is the key to everything,” he said. “We can’t get doctors because there is no housing. We can’t get police and firefighters because there is no housing. We have to find a solution and do the best we can to solve this problem.”

Cavitt said he knows in order to get a law passed and money appropriated to the area, he will have to continue to work with the Democrats. He said he did so during his current term and will continue so in his second.

He pointed to some of the successes he had the last two years that became realities because of the bi-partisan support he was able to generate.

Some of Cavitt’s achievements in Lansing include helping to reel in $1.9 million to expand the Holcim Alpena port and successfully fighting for $2.6 million for a planned Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly facility in Alpena.

He also introduced legislation that would give Michigan residents priority when reserving state campsites and worked with U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, to campaign against a possible federal ban on sturgeon fishing.

He said he took a stand against new regulations that allow the Michigan Public Service Commission to circumvent local governments to approve clean energy projects and also spoke out and pushed legislation that would ban sanctuary cities in Michigan.

Cavitt also faced a recall early in his first term because he voted for current House Speaker Democrat Joe Tate. The recall wasn’t successful and he said just continued to work throughout the drama.

“I’m proud of my record,” Cavitt said. “I went down there as a freshman lawmaker, and, right off the bat, I got hit with a recall, but I pushed on and championed ideas and needs for Northeast Michigan. I think I did pretty well, considering the party was in the minority, and I’m excited for a second term to keep building on what I have done.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.