Democko running for state Senate

Former Wayne County Board of Education member Dr. Joe Democko has announced he will run for a seat in the state Senate.

Democko resigned his seat on the school board in September, citing the need to devote time to caring for his ailing mother.

So when the opportunity came to run for the District 9 seat, Democko said he dismissed the query at first. Then, he talked to his mother.

“My mother is a very political animal,” he said. “She said, ‘Joe, I am fine. You need to take advantage of this opportunity.’”

With his mother’s health stable and her care under control, Democko said, at his family’s insistence, he decided to try the Senate run.

Democko said District 7 State Sen. Jim Perry was one of the people who encouraged his bid. Perry serves as the Senate Majority Whip and is chairman of the Senate’s Healthcare Committee and leads Appropriations for Health and Human Services.

“Jim said he would love to have a physician and someone with healthcare knowledge serving in the Senate with him,” he said.

Being part of healthcare policy-making efforts intrigued him, Democko said, adding that his successful election would be a milestone as well.

“No chiropractor has ever been in the Senate,” he said.

But that is not the reason he has been guided toward politics — whether that is on a school board or at the statehouse.

He said the state needs more people to get involved, especially when it comes to elective office.

“I know a lot of people who would do a wonderful job, but they just don’t do it because they get beaten up and they lose business,” he said.

Democko said it is a call he is ready to answer.

“If a battle needs to be fought, you have to get in there and fight it,” he said.

And Democko said he will do that with his mother’s support.

“She is very excited,” he said.

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