This year's presidential campaign can at least be described as factious and Republican State House candidate Michele Hoitenga is very aware of that.

“The political environment is vicious this year, it's very contentious,” she says.

As a Republican, Hoitenga is concerned about how campaign events at the national level may effect local elections.

“I do think that trickles down to the lower ballots and so I just really want people to know that I'm going to represent everybody.”

She stopped by the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday to say, if elected, she would be reaching out to the Board for advice. And, she said Republican candidate Donald Trump's appeal can be attributed, at least in part, to the American public's antipathy with the powers-that-be.

“They are fed up with politicians in general and politics as usual. And so, I think, people are reaching and looking for something different – and he's definitely different.”

Hoitenga won the primary for state representative in the 102^nd district and faces Democrat Douglas Gabbert for a seat in the Michigan House on November 8^th.