Who is Neil Friske? 4 things about Michigan lawmaker arrested in Lansing.
Michigan House Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning by Lansing Police, who say they responded to reports of an adult male with a gun and possible shots fired.
Friske, as of Friday morning, had not been charged. Lansing Police Public Information Director Jordan Gulkis said the department intended to present its case to the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office on Friday for review. In a statement posted to Friske's Facebook page, his campaign called the arrest "highly suspect."
Here's a bit more on Friske:
Who is Neil Friske?
Friske (pronounced "Fris-kee") is a first-term Republican lawmaker in the Michigan House of Representatives.
His bio on the House Republicans website states he's the owner of Friske and Sons Property Management, and previously ran Friske Orchards, along with his brother. Friske, 62, has four sons and five grandchildren, according to the website.
Friske was raised on a family farm near Charlevoix, his bio states.
Friske's father, Richard, also served in the Michigan House of Representatives. Richard Friske served a single term in the Legislature during the 1971-72 session.
Which district does Friske represent in the House?
Friske represents Michigan's 107th House District. The district covers all of Charlevoix and Emmet counties and portions of Cheboygan, Chippewa and Mackinac counties, spanning across both peninsulas.
He was elected in 2022, winning about 56.5% of the vote in the district in that year's November election.
Friske is seen as one of the most conservative lawmakers
Friske is a member of the House Freedom Caucus — a small group of Republican lawmakers who typically vote against any legislation brought to the floor in the Democratic-led House. The caucus describes itself as "focused on traditional conservative values and individual liberty."
As a lawmaker, Friske has sponsored legislation restricting abortion access and stiffening legal penalties for illegal immigration. Bills introduced by Friske haven't gained traction in the House, which is under Democratic control.
He is seeking reelection
Friske has filed for reelection in the 107th House District.
He does face a primary challenger — Parker Fairbairn, a Harbor Springs small business owner, has filed to challenge Friske in the August primary election.
Along with Friske and Fairbairn, Jodi Decker, of Sault Ste. Marie, has filed to run as a Democrat for the 107th District. Decker ran against Friske as the Democratic candidate in the 2022 election, losing by about 6,000 votes, or 13 percentage points.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Who is Neil Friske? 4 things about Michigan rep arrested in Lansing.
