Tonya Schuitmaker

Tonya Schuitmaker (born March 10, 1968) is the current President Pro Tempore of the Michigan State Senate. A member of the Republican party, she is the State Senator from Michigan's 20th State Senate District, serving since 2011. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served three terms in the Michigan State House of Representatives. She was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2004 and then again in 2006 and 2008 from the 80th House District, which included all of Van Buren County, the city of Otsego and the townships of Otsego and Watson in Allegan County.

Education

Schuitmaker graduated in 1986 from Mattawan High School. She earned a B.A. in business from Michigan State University in 1990 and a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law in 1993.

Professional career

Prior to her election to the Michigan House of Representatives, Schuitmaker unsuccessfully ran for an open Van Buren County Circuit Judge seat to replacing a retired judge, she was 28 years old and had practiced law for 3 years. Schuitmaker was a partner in her family's law firm of Schuitmaker, Cooper and Schuitmaker. At her family's firm, Schuitmaker focused on estate, family, business and governmental law. Schuitmaker is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Florida and Illinois.