ESCANABA - State House candidate Mike Falcon says his life experience and leadership experience will help him make a difference in Lansing if elected to represent the 108th District on Nov. 4.

The Republican said even though he would be only one vote out of 110 votes, every vote counts.

"I know I can go down to Lansing and make a difference," Falcon said when interviewed by the Daily Press this week. "I have life experience. I have sat on boards. I have been a leader all my life since the military."

Falcon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for nine years from 1986-1995. He served in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Germany and Italy. His final tour was at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, which closed in 1995.

During his military career, he saw the bigger picture of what's going on in the world and in politics, he said. He also witnessed how the base closing impacted the local economy.

After leaving the military, Falcon earned an associate's degree from Bay College. He also earned a bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration from Northern Michigan University.

He was employed by the university for 10 years, including six years as NMU's regional coordinator at the Bay campus. Four years ago, he was promoted to serve as NMU's regional coordinator for the Upper Peninsula.

As regional coordinator, Falcon said he's learned a lot about workforce development, economic development, entrepreneur programs, and program development - all experiences he will be able to refer to as he pursues the issue of jobs, his No. 1 priority if elected a state legislator.

"I think, first and foremost, we need to keep the jobs we have," Falcon said. He would work to keep businesses in the state by addressing the Small Business Tax, he said.

In addition to retaining jobs here, Falcon said existing businesses need to be able to expand. Efforts need to continue to attract new businesses to Michigan. Alternative energy should play a role in this economic development, he added.

Falcon also agrees with reviewing the higher-paid of the state's 53,000 state employees and cutting "from the top down." Other alternatives could be a salary freeze or a percentage cut across the board. He would also like to see "true accountability" of how the state spends revenue.

"My whole philosophy is: Can we afford it and how will it affect the people?" Falcon explained.

If elected to the two-year term, Falcon said he will make legislative decisions by considering what people want and what he believes, even if it means going against the party line.

"Right now, it took both the Democrats and the Republicans to mess the state up and it will take both to turn things around," he said. "We must remember all the (legislative) history and what works and what doesn't."

Regarding specific issues, Falcon said he is pro life and pro union. He is against the two ballot issues to use marijuana for specific medical conditions and use embryonic stem cells for medical purposes. He also says the problem of inequity in state funding for education needs be addressed.

For the most part, Falcon opposes term limits for legislators because the term lengths don't allow enough time for individuals to work their way into leadership positions.

Though he has gained the support of several organizations, he said, "I will always be my own person" when deciding what is best for the public.

Groups supporting Falcon include the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Right to Life, National Rifle Association, Farm Bureau, National Federation of Independent Businesses-Small Businesses, and Associated Builders and Contractors.