Brendan Ryan Soars In Candidate Forum At North Central Michigan College

Petoskey And Charlevoix Chamber Events Foreground Candidate Perspectives

Dateline: June 29, 2026, Petoskey, Michigan

Brendan Ryan, candidate for Michigan House of Representatives for the 107th district, soared in his first public forum with fellow candidates. Ascending the stage with a confident handshake and smile toward his Republican counterpart, Mr. Ryan set the tone for his message.

He told the story of being sent to Sunday School at Saint Francis Catholic church in Petoskey where a teacher asked if anyone knew the golden rule. He replied: “whoever has the gold makes the rules,” a phrase he learned from his grandfather. Mr. Ryan then talked about how an emerging billionaire class in this nation seems to believe their wealth and influence give them the right to make rules for the rest of us. “That does not work for me and it does not work for Michigan,” he said.

Mr. Ryan’s platform is based on five core focus areas: jobs, housing, healthcare, education and the environment. He believes that each of these areas are interrelated, such that improvements in one area will impact the others. It is his mission to make the lives of Northern Michigan families far better in all five areas.

The candidates were asked questions about the 2025 ice storm, bipartisan agreement, and what differentiates the district from other parts of the state. While each candidate brought their unique perspectives and personality to this forum, Brendan Ryan’s performance highlights why he’s the candidate of choice for District 107.

You can see a replay of this live event here: https://www.youtube.com/live/i-2A022ISw8