Tonya Schuitmaker graduated from Mattawan Consolidated High School. She holds a B.A. in business from Michigan State University and Tonya earned her Juris Doctor and graduated cum laude from the Detroit College of Law.

After completing her law degree, Tonya became an attorney and partner of the law firm of Schuitmaker, Cooper and Schuitmaker. Tonya started practicing law in 1993 where she concentrated in family, estate, business and municipal law. She was admitted to the State Bar of Illinois (1996), Florida (1994), Michigan (1993), and the American Bar Association (1993). From 1997 to 1998 Tonya was president of the Van Buren County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Representative Assembly of the Michigan Bar.

Serving her first term, Tonya was elected to the Michigan Senate in November 2010, following three terms in the House of Representatives.

Following her re-election to the House in 2008, she was appointed by her Republican colleagues to serve as assistant minority floor leader.

Currently, the senator serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, vice chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice chair of Senate Health Policy Committee, and as vice chair on the Senate Appropriations subcommittees on Capital Outlay, Community Colleges and Judiciary. Tonya also serves as a member on the vital Senate Appropriations Committee.

As a leader, Tonya has fought for the people of southwest Michigan. Her priorities include-

Working to repeal the MBT;

Creating a better environment for job creation and retention;

Improving the state's economy;

Getting government spending under control;

Protecting the most vulnerable such as children, seniors, the mentally ill, and the disabled; and

Maintaining public safety.

Tonya has worked on a number of initiatives such as-

Legislation that prevents courts from dropping charges of assault or domestic violence if the accused had been previously convicted of an assaultive crime.

Provision that requires child care providers to follow the background check regulations that apply to school employees if the child care service is operated within a school.

Retention of 100 jobs at DSM Pharma Chemicals with authorization of Single Business Tax credits.

Legislation requiring the State Police to create and maintain a computerized database for compiling information regarding methamphetamine manufacture, use, possession, and distribution in Michigan.

In addition, Tonya has worked closely with MEDC on several job creating measures throughout Southwest Michigan. During the past five years, Tonya has partnered with area leaders and businesses to host an Expo for Seniors and Veterans.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

A community activist, Tonya Schuitmaker has been or is currently involved in the following civic organizations-

Member, NFIB - National Federation of Independent Business

Member, SBAM - Small Business Association of Michigan

Member, 2010 Boy Scouts of America Regional Committee

Member, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

Member, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Farm Bureau

Fraternal Order of Police

Michigan Flywheelers

Rotary, Paul Harris Fellow

Paw Paw Optimist Club

Friends of the Library

Van Buren County Community Corrections Advisory Board

Kalamazoo Nature Center

Kalamazoo Ducks Unlimited

Southwest Michigan Gun Club

National Rifle Association

Daughters of the American Revolution

Mattawan Alumni Association

Right to Life

Kalamazoo Republican Party

Van Buren Republican Party

Past member, State Board of Medicine

Past member, Intercare Community Health Network

Past member, Van Buren County Community Mental Health Board of Directors

Past vice chair, State Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons