White, a Democrat, is running against current District 99 representative Bill Caul, a Republican. Both candidates are running uncontested in their respective primaries.

"I'm able to listen to all different kinds of opinions, and I think I can be the type of person that can work with both sides," White said. "I work well with lots of different kinds of people and try to understand and come up with creative solutions to problems."

White said she has no experience in political office, but practices business and construction law.

"Mainly I have a business background and legal background," she said.

One improvement she hopes to make if elected is to alter the state's budget schedule to two years rather than one year.

While White believes health care is a major issue, she still focuses on the cost of education and changes that should be made.

"The amount the state pays for college education has drastically been decreased," she said.

White said because she has a tenured position at CMU, she has the ability to take a leave of absence.

"I wouldn't mind teaching one class if I could, but I couldn't do both full-time," she said. "I don't think it would be fair to either job."

White is not worried about CMU's proposed plan to restrict faculty from running for political office.

The proposed plan states full-time employees of the university are required to resign or take an unpaid leave of absence when they comply with candidacy filing requirements 60 days prior to the election.

"I don't think that is for this year, and I think they're looking more in the future. Under the present policy, I'm not required to quit," White said. "If for some reason I had to, then I would have to take a leave for that time."

White said she has also accepted the possibility of students like Topinabee junior Dennis Lennox II combating her campaign.

"I would just have to handle it. I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion and he certainly is entitled," she said. "I have no trouble talking to anybody, that's not a problem."

Rep. Bill Caul is in his second two-year term as representative, and under Michigan term limit law, can serve one more.

"With my four years of experience, I certainly have the ability to get things done for the district," Caul said.

Caul served as vice chairmen of higher education on the House Appropriations committee, where he helped pass funding legislation for CMU's future medical school, he said.

"I feel like I've been good at listening to people's concerns and addressing issues and moving legislation forward that would help people," Caul said.

Lennox said White should take a leave of absence immediately.

"Certainly I would hope that she wouldn't misuse any tax payer resources for political purposes," he said.

Lennox said it is nice to see somebody getting involved, but believes White should focus on being a professor and not running for political office.

"It's just a risky precedence the school is setting by allowing their professors to run for office," he said.

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