SBAM Names State Reps. Mark Tisdel and Sara Cambensy as 2022 Legislators of the Year
June 21, 2022
LANSING, MI – The Small Business Association of Michigan today honored state Reps. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) and Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) as its 2022 Legislators of the Year.
“Reps. Tisdel and Cambensy are common-sense pro-small business leaders who have time and time again gone to bat for Michigan’s small businesses,” said SBAM President and CEO Brian Calley. “We are proud to honor them as our 2022 Legislators of the Year for the leadership and advocacy they have shown this year.”
SBAM honored Tisdel for being a pro-small business leader in his caucus, leading several tax policy legislative efforts, including the tax code for flow-through entities (most small businesses) that faced a veto from the Governor. Tisdel continued working on the issue until it was signed into law. When the economic development package passed at the end of 2021, Rep. Tisdel ensured that incentives didn’t just focus on large employers. He also advocated for Congress to strengthen the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which incentivizes businesses to hire populations traditionally left out of our workforce. He holds a 100% voting record on SBAM’s legislative priorities.
Cambensy has been a tremendous advocate who is not afraid to vote independently of her political party on core small business issues. She voted to override the Governor’s veto appropriating $150M to the unemployment trust fund, voted to end pandemic-related policies that created disincentives to going back to work, and she voted to reduce the personal income tax, which is the primary tax small businesses pay. She has gone above and beyond to stand up for Michigan’s small business community.
Rep. Tisdel represents the 45th District in the Michigan House of Representatives, which includes the cities of Rochester and Rochester Hills and part of Oakland Township. He is the majority vice chair of the House Committee on Tax Policy. He also serves on committees related to Health Policy; Insurance; and Families, Children and Seniors. Prior to his time in the Legislature, Tisdel served eight years on the Rochester Hills City Council and has a wealth of small business experience.
Rep. Cambensy is serving her third term representing the 109th House District, which comprises Alger, Luce and Schoolcraft counties and part of Marquette County. She is assistant democratic floor leader and serves on the Agriculture and Commerce and Tourism committees. Before her time in the House, Cambensy was a Marquette city commissioner and director of adult education for Marquette Public Schools.
The awards were presented on June 16, during SBAM’s Annual Meeting in Lansing.
