About Me - Who is this John Lawrence guy?
I'm a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan, with a love for my city, (and most importantly), those who live within it. I attended Kalamazoo Public Schools from K - 12th grade, graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School in 2007. Afterward, I went on to attend Western Michigan University (benefiting from the Kalamazoo Promise), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Video, and Media studies, along with a secondary major in Comparative Religion (religious studies).
Outside of my interests in government and politics, I’m an active musician and member of the local Kalamazoo-based blues/alt-rock trio Fox. I love the sounds of classic 60’s and 70’s blues-rock, along with a wide variety of other blues, folk, country, rock, and various Americana sounds, both of the past and the present. But, I also dig the newer sounds of hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and modern pop music. In truth, I am a music lover of a wide variety of genres and sounds.
Aside from music, I’m also a lifelong lover of the sport of motor and auto racing. Whether it be NASCAR, Indycar, Formula 1, NHRA drag racing, sports cars, endurance racing, Moto GP, or something else entirely - if it has wheels and a mechanical motor (combustion or electric), I’m bound to love it! I'm also a huge sim-racing fan and a frequenter of iRacing, so feel free to send me a message if you're a member and interested in "tradin' paint," of the digital-variety.
I’m fond of my city, and the state of Michigan in general. For all of its faults, this is a truly beautiful place to live, with a great diversity of “real” people just trying to find a way to make-it in life. I only hope that my candidacy can help shed light on the struggles of everyday people living within this district and this state, and that what I do, in some small way, can help to make my fellow citizens proud.