The position is currently held by Dave Prestin of Cedar River, who is vacating the seat to pursue the 38th Senate District, for which Ed McBroom is term-limited.

Values that rank high for Schroeder are education, transparency, housing and mental health.

Currently, he serves on the Mackinac County Commission; the Engadine Consolidated Schools Board of Education, of which he has been president since 2020; the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Policy Board for NorthCare Network; the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for Mackinac County; and the LMAS District Health Department Board.

“My career has taken me from classrooms to boardrooms to public service, but everything I do comes back to the Upper Peninsula,” said Schroeder. “This is home — and it’s worth fighting for.”

Shown is a map Michigan's 108th House District. Daryl Schroeder, five other Republicans and one Democrat are vying to represent the region.

It’s going to be a crowded primary in August. According to Ballotpedia, there are six Republican candidates vying to represent the 108th District: Schroeder, Casey Hoffman, Larry Johnson Jr., Kurt Perron, Christopher Reynolds and Steven Viau.

But Schroeder, whose experience covers a breadth of areas — business, finance, politics, schools, government, volunteering, redevelopment and more — believes he is uniquely qualified and well-positioned to be the next person to represent the U.P.

“The way to differentiate myself is — basically, you can have talking points, but I’m actually doing it. I’ve got my hands in there,” he said.

After graduating from Engadine High School, Schroeder earned his Bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University (NMU) in public administration with minors in criminal justice and accounting, and then went on to attend Michigan State University (MSU), where he earned his Master’s degree in advertising and public relations.

Professionally, Schroeder served as a district representative on the political staff of former U.S. Congressman Robert W. Davis. After meeting when Davis was a State Senator, Schroeder ended up working for him for seven years — two in Washington and five back in the U.P.

Daryl Schroeder

Later, Schroeder worked for several years with the Ford Motor Company, which ended up sending him to various parts of the country — seven states, he reported.

While in San Antonio, Texas, Schroeder did a lot of charity work for the Northeast Rotary Club. His efforts there earned him the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Schroeder returned to the U.P. in 2019 and immediately set about improving his home community. He now lives on his grandparents’ old farm near Engadine.

“My grandfather taught me respect, hard work and loyalty were key. And those are all U.P. values,” Schroeder said. “And I always knew I’d come back to pay it back to the school that helped me get my start — and to the people, the community,” Schroeder said.

“I just love the U.P. This is my home… This is still the most beautiful place that I’ve ever been. And I didn’t realize it until I had to move away.”

In 2019, Schroeder ran for township clerk and lost by a slim margin. But not long after, he was a write-in candidate for the school board — and won.

From 2020 through today, he has demonstrated effective direction as President of the Engadine Consolidated Schools Board of Education.

“Under his leadership, the entire school board was recently recognized as one of the few Honor Boards by the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) – an acknowledgment of strong governance and dedication to community and students. The school has also grown its general fund balance year after year with careful financial oversight and is in the best financial position since the 1970s,” read a press release announcing Schroeder’s campaign.

Another job Schroeder held was with First National Bank, where a major part of his job consisted of looking into cases of suspected fraud. He said that it was often scammers taking advantage of seniors.

“I do not like thieves,” he said. “People work hard for their money, and anytime somebody tries to take something from our senior citizens or working families, it just makes my blood boil.”

Currently, Schroeder works at the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum as a part-time Business Manager and assists with finances with the Engadine Historical Society. He owns a small business and is a member of the Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club.

Escanaba is a second home, Schroeder said — his brother played football and gradutaed from Escanaba high School, and mother has lived in the Delta County city for decades and works for the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority.

As a Mackinac County Commissioner, Schroeder presently works with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to pursue infrastructure grant funding for much-needed housing. On the school board, he is pursuing grant funds to help repair aging school buildings.

Whether he wins the role of Michigan State Representative for the 108th District or not, Schroeder said, he will continue fighting for the things the region deserves.

“Daryl brings a no-nonsense approach to reforming taxes and reducing burdensome regulations. Whether it’s supporting UP farmers, protecting gun rights, or fighting for election integrity, he remains a steadfast voice for the traditional values that define the Upper Peninsula,” a press release read.

His priorities are stated as follows:

– EDUCATION – Increase funding for U.P. schools, with a focus on budget increases for transportation costs for larger rural school districts, developing new career and technical education opportunities, modernizing aging infrastructure, and bringing back stronger requirements for math, science and writing.

– MENTAL HEALTH – Expand rural mental health services in the U.P. and ensure law enforcement and health professionals have the tools to support less fortunate individuals facing long-term mental health issues and substance abuse challenges.

– HOUSING – Research the housing shortages in the U.P. by seeking and promoting development options for low-moderate and middle-income families to help communities grow and retain younger generations in their hometown area.

– FRAUD AND ABUSE – Make sure residents’ tax dollars are being spent wisely and not going to third party shell companies.

“I’m running because I believe the U.P. deserves strong, common sense, practical representation from someone who understands our challenges and our opportunities,” Schroeder said. “Together, we can help this region grow and prosper.”

Schroeder is asking supporters to spread the word by sharing his candidacy with friends and family and by encouraging everyone to head to the polls for the early August primary.