IRON MOUNTAIN – Two Democrats and three Republicans will be on Tuesday’s primary ballot in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.

The district includes the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern section of the Lower Peninsula.

Incumbent Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, who began serving in Congress in 2010, is not seeking re-election.

The Republican candidates are Tom Casperson, a state senator, Jason Allen, a former state senator, and Jack Bergman, a retired USMC general. The Democratic candidates are Democratic Party leader Lon Johnson and former Kalkaska County Sheriff Jerry Cannon.

Also, Diane Bostow will be on the Nov. 8 ballot seeking election as a Libertarian.

Statements from the candidates in Tuesday’s primary election follow:

Jason Allen

Republican

Traverse City

I am running for the United State House of Representatives to be your conservative voice for upper Michigan. As a conservative Republican, a businessman, a veteran and avid outdoorsman; I believe out of all the candidates running, I am best suited to serve Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.

I believe in lower taxes, less government and more freedom. I have signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Pledge vowing to not vote for any tax increases once elected. I am 100 percent pro-life, pro-second amendment and believe in eliminating our deficit and reducing our debt to get our country back on strong financial grounding.

I also believe the private sector is best suited to create jobs and it’s the government’s job to create an environment for job creators to do what they do best – create jobs – without excessive government red tape.

As a veteran, I have spent years trying to help those who have served our country get the help they need and deserve and will work diligently to reform our VA system so all our veterans can get better care.

And, finally, I opposed Right-to-Work and have fought union encroachment into our political system just to advance their liberal agenda. Workers should not have to be forced to subsidize contributions to candidates they do not support. Unlike my opponent, Tom Casperson, who has taken $25,000 directly from unions and had a Super PAC pour in another $150,000 in negative ads into our district, I have not taken one dollar from unions and am not beholden to them for anything.

I know our values and understand the challenges we face in Upper Michigan. I would consider it an honor and a privilege to serve as your conservative voice in Congress and I humbly ask for your vote.

Tom Casperson

Republican

Escanaba

I’m Tom Casperson and I’ve spent nearly three decades in the log trucking business here in Northern Michigan. I never planned to be in politics. I got elected to state government in the first place because Lansing wouldn’t address an important safety issue I was trying to fix in my industry. I knew I was right and the bureaucrats were wrong and I went to Lansing to fix that problem. Now I want to take our fight for common sense government to Washington and clean up the mess that our Congress has gotten us into.

We need to repeal and replace Obamacare yesterday. Every day under this law, Americans are paying more for health care, job providers are paying higher taxes and workers are getting their hours slashed so employers don’t have to offer mandated benefits. We need a true reform plan that will increase access to health care by focusing on reducing costs, not more taxes and regulations.

I personally believe the federal government has too much of our tax dollars to begin with. Seems like the simplest solution to bringing more federal dollars here to Northern Michigan is to send less money to Washington in the first place and keep it here. How many employees must we pay to shuffle paper and reassign our own tax dollars back to worthy projects in our community?

The federal government has become too big, too bloated and too bureaucratic. That is why I am running on a 10-20-30 plan that calls for a 10 percent reduction in the federal civilian workforce through attrition, a 20 percent reduction in office space and a 30 percent reduction in federal management of public lands back over to state government control over private ownership.

I hope to have your vote on Aug. 2.

Jack Bergman

Republican

Watersmeet

Over the last decade, conservatives have found themselves feeling as though they are fighting a losing battle, even after we’ve won elections. The people of the Upper Peninsula are not willing tolerate going along to get along when it comes to doing the right thing.

Upper Michigan is tired of those we elect compromising away our freedoms and prosperity because Republicans in Washington are afraid to confront lobbyists and special interests. Too often, Congress finds following the Constitution to be an inconvenience while career politicians view the rule of law as an obstacle to their power rather than a bulwark for a free and successful society.

I’m running to stand up for American exceptionalism. We need people in Congress who understand and support the values at the center of the American Dream: if you work hard, do the right thing, and never quit, you will find success.

We also need a representative who knows how to keep us safe. I have spent my entire life in service to the protection of the Constitution and our nation, rising to become a three-star Lt. General in the United States Marine Corps. I know what it takes to defeat terrorism without sacrificing our liberties found in the Bill of Rights.

My family roots began in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the late 1800s where my ancestors worked as iron miners. My wife and I chose to live in Watersmeet because of its natural beauty and family-oriented community. I’m asking for your vote because our nation is at a crossroads and our representative in Congress must do everything possible to ensure that our community’s values are what guides our country moving forward. That’s what I’ll do in Washington.

Jerry Cannon

Democrat

Traverse City

I’m not a politician; I do things honorably and never take the easy way out. I have been a public servant for 50 years and married for 46; I am steady, stable and have never quit anything I started. As an enlisted combat Marine in Vietnam, a sheriff in Kalkaska and a major general in Iraq, my duty was to uphold the Constitution and serve, provide and protect my troops, community and country. My experience spans from local to global levels; commanding thousands and managing billions. I know first-hand about public safety, military affairs, public policy, foreign affairs, public finance and veterans affairs.

Congress is broken; electing self-serving politicians will only continue the litany of broken promises. Only an outsider with the rigor, grit and vigor to go against the establishment can bring about the change we need; where good public policy trumps politics and improving the lives of those served is a priority.

I have lived, worked and raised my family in Northern Michigan for 40 years; I share the burden and common experiences of working families. Past performance is a good indicator of future success; as sheriff and Army general, I have right skills, education and experience in government, leadership and community engagement. I have real world experience and can make sensible decisions at the national level.

There are three overarching problems facing our country; first is our national debt of $19 trillion; which, like a mortgage, when repaid will be nearly $50 trillion. It’s unconscionable to pass this burden on to our children and grandchildren. Secondly, sequestration is absolutely the worst way to manage a budget process, and finally campaign finance reform.

My personal priorities will focus on the economic inequities of rural living; veteran and senior care and promoting/protecting our educational, economic and environmental opportunities.

Lon Johnson

Democrat

Kalkaska

Work hard. Play by the rules. Never give up. These are the values I learned growing up in a family with five generations of Northern Michigan history. They guided me as I became one of the first in my family to graduate from college, during my civilian service in Iraq in 2005, and throughout my work investing in, and growing, U.S. manufacturing businesses. I’m 45, and live in Kalkaska County with my wife, Julianna Smoot.

We must invest in, and protect, our greatest assets: our people, land and Great Lakes. I will work in Congress to: 1.) return passenger rail service to Northern Michigan; 2.) bring high-speed internet and mobile phone service to all our communities and schools; 3.) create a fresh water institute to show the world how to use and protect freshwater; 4.) invest in our public education system and lower the cost of college; 5.) build a new Soo Lock; 6.) oppose unfair trade deals that ship our jobs overseas; 7.) increase veteran health care access and benefits; 8.) reduce taxes on the working and middle class and make sure millionaires and big corporations pay their fair share; 9.) invest in renewable energy; 10.) shut down line 5, the oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.

Northern Michigan and the U.P. have always led the world. We led the world in international trade – fur trade in the 1700’s; then we led the world in mining; then in lumber – now it’s up to us to lead again – and create a place where our children and grandchildren can stay and succeed.