Jodi Lynn Decker

  "District 107 Candidate"

       "I've been through many things throughout my life; one thing is clear: I'm an advocate. I have strong beliefs and will fight for them, whether for myself or others. I am confident enough to expand my fight for all the people of the 107th District of Michigan.

I am originally from the Escanaba area. Born and raised Yooper! I've lived here my entire life. My dad has a car dealership in Escanaba that he started when he was just 19 years old, and my mom was a stay-at-home mom when I was young. She raised five children, of which I am the most senior. I have three sisters, a brother, four nephews, and two nieces. When I was thirteen, my great-grandmother, Mary Ellen Murphy, passed away. She continues to be my most significant influence. She once told me about crossing to America on a ship. She described how it was during the Great Depression and how she had raised four different families to help other relatives during hard times. This is another reason why I feel strongly about families staying together. My Grandfather was a World War II veteran and worked as a woodsman after serving his country. During this time, my Great Grandmother cooked meals for the lumber camps. She took it upon herself to enjoy teaching me how to cook without recipes; she was a callous and goal-oriented woman who knew how to reach her goals in difficult times. Nothing could stop her. My grandfather was also known to work the land and cultivate. He had a wonderful garden and fields of crops as far as the eyes could see. I remember playing in the areas, planting and picking vegetables, and picking rocks out of the garden so I could finally drive the big John Deere tractor he would operate. I loved it on the farm!  I live, work, and continue raising  my children here in Sault Ste Marie.

I moved to Sault Ste Marie in 1994 and worked for the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians from 1994-2008. In 2008, I returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice-Corrections with a Minor in Business Administration from Lake Superior State University in 2011. I became a Foster Parent in Chippewa County in 2011 and took in kids until I let my license expire in 2018. I also was a Notary Public from 2012-2019 during this time. I worked at Walmart as a cashier while attending school and for a Juvenile Justice Diversion and Reintegration Alternatives (JJDRA) Program for Teaching Family Homes from 2014-2020. While working there, I briefly worked for Trinity inside Chippewa East Correctional Facility in 2015, supervising inmates and preparing meals for the population. From 2017-2020, I managed Zim's, a bar/restaurant in Sault Ste Marie. Finally, from 2018 to the present, I have worked for U.P. Kids doing prevention and reunification for children in danger of being removed from their parent(s) and those being returned to their parent(s) from Foster Care. I have experience advocating for others, and I'd like to put that experience to use advocating for our area in the Great State of Michigan's 107th District!"