As an estate planning attorney, Chris Moraitis has spent a lot of time helping farm families preserve their land and pass it on to the next generation. Those experiences, he said, have reinforced the importance of protecting Michigan agriculture and the families who make their living from it.
Moraitis recently received the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac's "Friend of Agriculture" endorsement in his campaign for Michigan's 20th Senate District. He is seeking the open seat being vacated by Sen. Aric Nesbitt. The district includes portions of Allegan, Berrien, Kent and Van Buren counties.
"One of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping farm families create a plan that keeps their land in the family for generations," Moraitis said, who is a partner at Schuitmaker Moraitis Law in Paw Paw. "Seeing three generations working together on the same farm—and knowing that plan will help preserve that legacy for generations to come—is really special."
A member of Van Buren County Farm Bureau, Moraitis said the district's agricultural diversity makes it one of Michigan's most important farming regions.
"Southwest Michigan is Michigan's fruit belt," Moraitis said. "Agriculture and food processing are among the top job creators in the district."
Over the past several months, he said meeting with growers has reinforced the importance of listening to those with firsthand experience.
"The more I talk to farmers, the more I realize I don't have all the answers," Moraitis said. "Whether it's blueberry growers, asparagus growers or other producers, they're the experts. My job is to listen, learn from the people who've been doing this for generations and make sure their voices are heard in Lansing."
Moraitis identified government regulation as one of the biggest challenges facing Michigan agriculture. He said farmers need clear, consistent policies that allow them to operate efficiently while holding state agencies accountable for their decisions.
Among his priorities, Moraitis said he supports restoring local control over siting decisions for large-scale renewable energy projects and other major developments, arguing local communities should have a stronger voice in protecting productive farmland.
"One of my top priorities is restoring local control over large-scale energy projects and land-use decisions," Moraitis said. "I want to make sure farmers and local communities—not Lansing—have a stronger voice in what happens to their farmland and in preserving Southwest Michigan's agricultural heritage."
In addition to his legal practice, Moraitis serves on the Paw Paw Downtown Development Authority and is vice president of the Van Buren County Bar Association. He earned degrees from Michigan State University's James Madison College and Michigan State University College of Law.
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AgriPac helps elect candidates who listen to farmers and advocate for Michigan agriculture. Your support helps advance bipartisan, common-sense, science-based policy shaped by real input from farm families and businesses.
Contributions in any amount are accepted online or can be sent to: AgriPac, 7373 W. Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917. Personal checks can be made out to MFB AgriPac and farm or business checks can be made out to MFB FarmPac.
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