Mark Tisdel

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Mark Tisdel
Image of Mark Tisdel
Michigan House of Representatives District 55
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor
Prior offices
Michigan House of Representatives District 45
Successor: Sarah Lightner
Predecessor: Michael Webber

Compensation

Base salary

$71,685/year

Per diem

No per diem is paid. Legislators receive an expense allowance of $10,800/year for session and interim.

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Drake University, 1978

Personal
Birthplace
Port Huron, Mich.
Religion
Roman Catholic
Profession
Insurance Agent
Contact

Mark Tisdel (Republican Party) is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 55. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Tisdel (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 55. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Mark Tisdel was born in Port Huron, Michigan, and lives in Rochester Hills, Michigan.[1] Tisdel earned a bachelor's degree from Drake University in 1978.[2] His career experience includes working as a medical liability insurance agent and a principal at Backus Payne & Associates.[2][3] Tisdel has volunteered with the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Association of Michigan, and the Better Business Bureau.[2]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Tisdel was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Tisdel was assigned to the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 55

Incumbent Mark Tisdel defeated Trevis Harrold in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 55 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Tisdel
Mark Tisdel (R)
 
53.7
 
29,026
Image of Trevis Harrold
Trevis Harrold (D) Candidate Connection
 
46.3
 
24,993

Total votes: 54,019
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55

Trevis Harrold defeated Alex Hawkins in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55 on August 6, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Trevis Harrold
Trevis Harrold Candidate Connection
 
52.8
 
4,861
Image of Alex Hawkins
Alex Hawkins Candidate Connection
 
47.2
 
4,349

Total votes: 9,210
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55

Incumbent Mark Tisdel advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55 on August 6, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Tisdel
Mark Tisdel
 
100.0
 
7,633

Total votes: 7,633
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Tisdel in this election.

2022

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 55

Incumbent Mark Tisdel defeated Patricia Bernard in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 55 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Tisdel
Mark Tisdel (R)
 
51.8
 
23,210
Image of Patricia Bernard
Patricia Bernard (D) Candidate Connection
 
48.2
 
21,601

Total votes: 44,811
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55

Patricia Bernard defeated Neil R. Oza in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Patricia Bernard
Patricia Bernard Candidate Connection
 
52.1
 
5,017
Image of Neil R. Oza
Neil R. Oza Candidate Connection
 
47.9
 
4,619

Total votes: 9,636
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55

Incumbent Mark Tisdel advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 55 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Tisdel
Mark Tisdel
 
100.0
 
9,429

Total votes: 9,429
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Campaign finance

2020

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45

Mark Tisdel defeated Barb Anness in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Tisdel
Mark Tisdel (R) Candidate Connection
 
52.3
 
29,227
Image of Barb Anness
Barb Anness (D) Candidate Connection
 
47.7
 
26,604

Total votes: 55,831
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45

Barb Anness defeated Brendan Johnson in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Barb Anness
Barb Anness Candidate Connection
 
56.9
 
7,314
Image of Brendan Johnson
Brendan Johnson Candidate Connection
 
43.1
 
5,535

Total votes: 12,849
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45

Mark Tisdel advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark Tisdel
Mark Tisdel Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
10,831

Total votes: 10,831
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

To view Tisdel's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mark Tisdel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Mark Tisdel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Candidate Connection

Mark Tisdel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tisdel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Born and raised in Port Huron in a hard-working professional family. I've lived in Rochester Hills for 31 years, have been a Cantor at St Andrew Catholic for 27 years, have raised six-figures in charitable donations over the last 26 years (benefit concerts), small business owner for 20 years, City Council Member At Large for 8 years--4 years as Council President. I'm a husband of 43 years, father of two, grandfather of five and have been blessed with long-term friendships and close family relations.
  • Vision: I've spent the last 45 years reading books on American history, free-market economics and social sciences. I am a "Liberty First" advocate and apply that principle as a starting point.
  • Voice: I'm blessed with the apply to use my voice to help other; both musically and politically. Rochester Hills has 30 resident-driven committees, boards and commissions with 130 appointed members. I've learned to listen, understand and voice their input.
  • Proven Leadership: After 8 years as a citywide Council Member and 4 years as Council President, learned the meaning of servant leadership. It has been a privilege to work with dedicated city employees, Department Directors, our great Mayor, and to watch the good work performed by Homeowner Associations--often thanklessly--across our city. Leadership is action, not a position.
Detroit Free Press   Featured local question
Michigan needs to be the most accommodating and welcoming state for entrepreneurs. Money and talent flow to the path of least resistance. We do not have a favorable average January temperature. We must allow business-builders the ability to create, innovate and experiment within a liberty-first economy that rewards success. Unreasonable or redundant licensing, regulations and taxes will only add to our climate realities that can make locating a business in Michigan a challenge.
Detroit Free Press   Featured local question
Government's primary role has always been preserving constitutional rights and protecting the public's health, safety and welfare. Adequately fund the departments and programs that fulfill those objectives and see how much of the budget remains for other initiatives. I'm not worried about "right-sizing" government. I'm more interested in funding universally agreed upon functions of government: public safety, public health, clean water and waste management, transportation and education.
Detroit Free Press   Featured local question
My first elective office experience was subject to FOIA and Open Meetings Act regulation. I believe the Governor and State Legislature live under the same requirements as municipalities. I'm willing to listen to arguments for exceptions, but I've experienced the benefits of having local government work open for the public's review. It's a good thing.
Detroit Free Press   Featured local question
The anticipated billions in budget shortfall, from a government imposed shutdown, cannot be paid for out of the pockets of the workers and businesses that are trying to get back on their feet. Governor Whitmer was able to identify one billion dollars in savings, via line item vetoes, in a matter of days last fall. Further, you only need to go back to fiscal year 2017 to find a total budget number that reflects the kind of savings will need to see in 2021. This will require reductions in all departments subject to adjustments and current priorities of the Administration and legislature. Adding new costs to workers and businesses as they emerge from months of losses seems cruel and economically irrational.
Detroit Free Press   Featured local question
Michigan has a seen a steady and growing commitment to spending on roads that resulted in record appropriations for this fiscal year. What's needed is a commitment to follow the template put in place during the Snyder administration. Acquiring new debt, while we are still paying off hundreds of millions in road "maintenance" debt from the Engler and Granholm years seems reckless. Michigan has been at the bottom of per capita spending on roads for more than fifty years. Dramatically increasing funding (demand) for road construction--by issuing new debt overnight--will simply increase the cost per mile of road creation as demand races past road-building supply. NOTE: Road construction companies have not been sitting on excess building capacity for decades waiting for Michigan to spend more money. If new demand dwarfs current construction supply, we'll only be paying more for the same number of miles improved. Some will proudly proclaimed the increased spending as proof of their commitment to fix the roads. The needed metric will be how many more lane miles of roadway were reconstructed.
For other infrastructure needs, legislation enabling municipalities and counties to create local tax authorities as sources of revenue for local roads, water lines and sewer improvements creates local control and oversight.
Detroit Free Press   Featured local question
Making a greater commitment to public funding for education rather than funding for public education. It's a subtle but needed adjustment. The COVID-19 shutdown showed us we've done an excellent job of creating education "systems" at the expense of creating education "services." Allowing parents greater input on the application of public funds for education will increase demand for new services that can be met but public and private sources. Again, the idea that a central authority has the "right" answer(s) for diverse statewide education needs--K through 12, skills and higher education--is very unlikely. Decentralize authority; consolidate administration (Michigan has 587 school districts and 57 intermediate school districts) and expand parental choice. Markets create information. Results will drive parental choices and identify unmet student needs.
Infrastructure: Road quality has been an issue for years but there are less visible needs like storm sewers and, now, we understand the need for the inspection of enhancement of our state's dams. We have under-spent, relative to our neighboring states, for years. It will take a sustained commitment to increased annual spending to work our way out.

Energy: Energy density and efficiency are the critical considerations for new generating capacity. Building energy-diffuse and intermittent infrastructure requires too much land, too many resources plus 100% back-up (almost always fossil fuel) generating capacity.
Health: The oldest baby boomers are 74. They have yet to enter assisted living or skilled nursing care facilities. This huge pending demand will require a doubling of capacity and caregiver labor. We need to address this issue today. Health insurance, health care spending, and the shortage of primary care physicians are all concerns that require attention.

Transparency: The Governor and state legislators should be subject to the same FOIA and Open Meetings Act requirements that apply to municipalities. Tax "transparency" is also critical. Taxes need to be out in the open--not buried in the price of goods sold and stagnant wages and benefits--for all to easily see. Broaden, Lower, Simplify is my overriding tax objective.
I've read more about Abraham Lincoln than any other American. His persistence after repeated losses and failures proved to be a vital asset during his wartime presidency. Lincoln had the ability to achieve great things, using a soft touch, but was a shrewd and unrelenting force when needed. His ability to endure family tragedy and never waiver in his commitment to preserving the union was remarkable. I carried an exceptionally heavy weight, for us, and we have photographed evidence of the cost.
Thomas Sowell's, Ethnic America, examines the paths of multiple immigrant groups as they enter the US. Success is achieved by following the application of a relatively simple formula: work, family and faith. The similarities between the very different groups--Chinese, Jews, Germans, Irish, West Indians--and how each climbed into the US mainstream is striking. Though published in 1981, the message is needed even more today.
Patience, open-minded and experienced. All of these are required to build agreement within a divided government, e.g., Democratic Administration, Republican Legislature.
A history of honesty, integrity and legislative expertise.
The first big historical event I can remember is the assassination of President Kennedy. I was eight years old. I remember watching the televised events with my siblings and parents for hours. There was a quiet sadness within my parents that filled all of us. That was my first experience of feeling a collective sense of loss.
"Very first" summer job was groundskeeper at Port Huron Hospital. I was fifteen. It involved mowing, watering, weeding and planting dozens of bushes and small trees. My first job, after college, was waiting tables at an all-you-can-eat spaghetti restaurant in Des Moines IA. My wife, Susan, and I worked together at the restaurant for nearly two years. We had the opportunity to open another location in Lincoln Nebraska but decided to come back to Michigan.
Freedom by William Safire. It is an historical novel that follows President Lincoln from inauguration to the Emancipation Proclamation. Witnessing his frustrations, losses, personal and political challenges and his eventual success was incredibly uplifting. It illustrated that even history's greatest individuals experience very low "lows" before they climb to prominence. It also demonstrated that greatest is not always recognized or appreciated by one's contemporaries. Seeking external approval is not the means to great ends.
Good question! I would have to choose George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. George possessed the virtues and persistence that seem to endure.
For a long time, I compared myself with the achievements of others. This left me with the inability to appreciate what I had accomplished, what I possess in the moment, and robbed me of the ability to be satisfied. I was impatient, envious, self-righteous and angry. I paid a price for all of those faults and, fortunately, learned and became a better person.
The House of Representatives, with its smaller districts and shorter service terms, should be more reflective of the current constituent needs and interests. The State Senate, with its larger districts and longer service terms, should be more deliberate in its consideration of legislative changes and new initiatives. Those differing and, perhaps, competing interests provide an opportunity to both react quickly to change constituent needs while preserving traditions that reduced past challenges.
Previous experience in any serious endeavor is valuable. It's important to understand that every current legislative budget represents hundreds of different, and often competing, interests. Having endured the process of committee, staff and legal reviews--before legislative deliberation even begins--provides needed insight that nothing "just happens." German politician Max Weber called politics the "strong, slow boring of hard boards." Patience, persistence, the willingness to listen and adjust are all required in pursuit of improving the state's condition.
First, bringing the post-COVID economy back to life will be challenging. Support needs to be driven down to those who were dispossessed--told by the government that their jobs were "non-essential"--without creating an incentive to remain idle or dependency. Increased liberty for entrepreneurs to initiate creative services and products and a review of occupational licensing--especially in the healthcare industry--to ensure private talent and capital can be efficiently applied as quickly as possible.
The Governor and Legislature should be respectful competitors that jealously protect their disparate spheres of influence and authority. Their competing interests should act as a check on each branches desire to overreach. Respectful competition, a recognition of shared interests and values, and a willingness to find common ground while aggressively pursuing competing interests is healthy.
It is imperative to have strong relationships between members of each legislative branch. My good friend has a saying, "I reserve the right to get smarter." Getting smarter requires contact of others, listening and acquiring new information, and applying that to your personal philosophy and abilities. Being "right" on any particular complex question is a very narrow place to stand. Information, facts and needs change frequently. Clinging to a perceived "right" answer can thwart needed nimbleness. You need trusted friends, trusted voices, and differing visions to help you see clearly.
Energy, Health Policy and Tax Policy: Affordable, reliable and efficient energy sources are imperative to Michigan's manufacturing, agriculture and tourism industries. The ability to move products, produce clean drinking water and manage storm and sanitary sewage, and reliability deliver cost-competitive electrical energy are paramount to our future success.

Health care costs must be controlled. Consumers, with increased deductibles and co-pays, must become informed buyers of professional services and must have an incentive to economize.

Taxes must be transparent, not hidden in the purchase price of retail goods and services. Broadening the tax base, lowering the per-transaction tax burden and simplifying tax compliance must be the overriding objectives.
My father used to say, "it's a give and take world." NOTE: You have to "give" first. As a freshman legislature, I'll understand that established party members have knowledge, experience and authority from which I can benefit. My strengths and talents will become known by my deeds. i'm confident my leadership rolls will be earned and my contributions appreciated.
I've had the pleasure of building friendships with Rep Mike Weber, former Senate Senator Marty Knollenberg and former Congressman Mike Bishop. These gentlemen have served their constituents with respect and honor. None of them were bomb-throwers or zealots with solutions in search of problems. Both Congressman Bishop and Senator Knollenberg lost their seats in what can only be described as a unique election cycle: huge mid-term turnout with ballots initiatives that appealed to some non-traditional voters. These losses are informative: honorable and respectful work are not enough. Creative, broad-reaching political messaging is needed in this era of social media information gathering.
I'll be 65 years old when elected to the State House of Representatives. I'm not running to build a political career. I'm running because I am the best positioned candidate, after eight years of citywide governance leadership, to serve the 45th District. I'm not saying wouldn't consider another position but I know my time with with my wife, children and grandchildren is finite. My intention is to serve as long as the voters will have me, give it my best, and go home.
A local business owner of Asian-Indian descent, recently told me that, in his 30-years in the US, he and his family have experienced nothing in the way of oppressive / obstructive racism. This individual has worked for a large automotive manufacturing and now owns multiple fast food retail stores. Hearing that the "American" dream is still available--and achievable--is heartening. Our country, states, counties and cities all have room for improvement. Still, it's great to hear that talented individuals, from around the world, still see the US as an opportunity to improve their lives.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Mark Tisdel campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Michigan House of Representatives District 55Won general$475,833 $0
2022Michigan House of Representatives District 55Won general$586,218 $0
2020Michigan House of Representatives District 45Won general$756,754 N/A**
Grand total$1,818,805 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Michigan

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

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2024


2023


2022


2021








See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Felicia Brabec (D)
Michigan House of Representatives District 55
2023-Present
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
Michael Webber (R)
Michigan House of Representatives District 45
2021-2023
Succeeded by
Sarah Lightner (R)


Current members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Matt Hall
Minority Leader:Ranjeev Puri
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Mai Xiong (D)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
Matt Hall (R)
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
Kara Hope (D)
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
Tim Kelly (R)
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
Tom Kunse (R)
District 101
District 102
District 103
District 104
John Roth (R)
District 105
District 106
District 107
District 108
District 109
District 110
Republican Party (58)
Democratic Party (52)