Candidates for Michigan State Senate District 20 race speak out

MICHIGAN. -- Turning our attention to the State Senate race in District 20, which includes part of Berrien County.

Tuesday's election will determine which of three republicans will face democrat Dale Murney, who is running uncontested.

Michigan's 20th district Senate seat is currently occupied by republican Aric Nesbitt.

But Nesbitt is term limited, so a new face will represent the district next year.

Kenny Clevenger has held multiple elected roles, including as a South Haven school board member, Van Buren school board president, and Casco Township board treasurer. Clevenger says a difficult upbringing helped teach him early on how to overcome challenges and difficulties.

"I was born to drug-addicted parents, I spent time in foster care in Battle Creek, so I think a lot of people, when they see my big family, and the smile on my face, they don't know about that kind of early childhood, and some of the challenges I've had to overcome, and I don't use it as a victim story, it's a victor story," said Clevenger.

Chris Moraitis served as president of the Van Buren Bar Association.

He was also involved with the Paw Paw Downtown Development Authority, and the executive committee of the Van Buren County Republican Party.

Like Clevenger, Moraitis faced challenges in childhood, which helped motivate him to serve.

"I'm a fighter and I'm a survivor and that's the type of person that we need, a fighter and someone who's a survivor, my life wasn't easy, I grew up in a single parent household, my story's not unique, we all come through struggles and trials and tribulations, it's how you deal with those trails that really make the mark of someone's character, and I worked hard to be where I am now," said Moraitis.

ABC57 reached out multiple times to the third candidate Curtis Clark to schedule an interview but were unable to do so.