About Penny

I'm Penny Crider, and I'm excited about the opportunity to be your next State Representative for District 17. 

I have a deep love for these communities. I was raised in Farmington Hills and Livonia, went to school here. I bought my first home in N-Redford and raised my family there before moving to Livonia. Very simply, Metro Detroit is my HOME. I am running for the District 17 House seat to be the voice of this community, a majority of whom want and expect someone to stand up for their "family first" values. 

My personal motto for this campaign is  " A Brighter Future for our Families" and that’s not how we’re being represented today in Lansing by our Governor or our current state representative. Metro Detroit and Michigan citizens deserve better. 

I am the daughter of parents who grew up during the Great Depression.  Their experience in those tough times made my mom and dad very conservative both, personally and fiscally, in the way they lived their lives. This traditional conservatism rubbed off on me. My father was a Combat Engineer in the United States Army and served his beloved country with the 32nd division “Red Arrows” in the Pacific Theater from the beginning of WWII (Feb, 1942 - Oct, 1945) through to the end.  My father’s patriotism and love of country is also something I am proud to have inherited.  

Though I was born a Yooper in Marquette MI, I grew up in metro Detroit, moving to Farmington Hills as a young child.  I attended Clarenceville Schools from my days at Edgewood Elementary through my graduation from Clarenceville High School.  I met my husband Ken while he was a junior at “C-Ville” High, and we have been happily married for almost 37 years.  Our one and only son attended Livonia Schools and carried on what is now a family tradition by marrying his high school sweetheart.  

My initial career was to raise my son, a decision I will never regret. After twenty years of managing our household, and volunteering at school and in the community. I attended Madonna University for an accelerated course in medical billing and coding.  But as fate would have it I had a chance meeting with my state senator, Patrick Colbeck, and I was hired right away to manage his district office.

As district manager I engaged with constituents and local elected officials daily, helping solve their problems. I also learned how Lansing works, so I can hit the ground running from day one as your next state representative.

I am dedicated to continuing to serve those who live in my district as your state representative. You will have a strong voice in Lansing and I will do everything I can to make sure you, your sons and daughters, small business owners, and new industry leaders want to make Michigan and Metro Detroit their home. 

I look forward to getting to know you and thank you in advance for your support.

I have been a "small government" warrior for all of my adult life with a history to prove it. I will fight to protect the US and State's Constitutions and fight to protect life and liberty. I understand that the constitutions protect our God given rights and that our constitutions puts limits on the government not the governed.