Lake Leelanau resident Michael McManus formally announced his candidacy Tuesday for the 101st State House of Representatives seat.

Michael McManus

McManus, father of State Senator Michelle McManus, declared himself a Republican candidate before an audience at the Conservation District Office in Lake Leelanau Tuesday morning and later that day in Manistee County. The 101st District includes Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee and Mason counties.

A fourth-generation cherry farmer, McManus retired as a teacher from Traverse City Public Schools. He lives with his wife, Janet, on one of the family farms where they have grown cherries for more than 30 years.

He has held top offices on the board of trustees for Northwestern Michigan College and the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation. During his tenure on the board, NMC experienced expansion with the addition of the Dennos Museum, Milliken Auditorium, the NMC University Center, James J. Beckett Building, M-Tech and Great Lakes Maritime Academy.

McManus is also a member of the Northwest Michigan County Farm Bureau, Michigan Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation. Other affiliations and memberships include the Knights of Columbus, the Leelanau Conservancy, Traverse Area and Michigan Right to Life organizations, and the Cedar Rod & Gun Club,

The McManuses are members of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Lake Leelanau, and have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

He is the only candidate from Leelanau County out of four persons seeking the Republican nomination for the seat. Rep. David Palsrok (R-Manistee) cannot run for re-election due to term limits.

The Republican nominee will likely face Dan Scripps from Northport, the only Democrat to announce a run for the seat. Scripps ran unsuccessfully in the 2004 election.