OWOSSO, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Democratic state House candidate Stephen Schlaack is breaking his silence following an October 10 confrontation at the Owosso Farmers Market involving Republicans distributing political signs.
Following the publication of the original Michigan News Source story, Schlaack responded to a request for comment that had gone unanswered before publication. In his response, he defended his actions, clarified his statements to police and announced that he would step away from market operations for the remainder of the year.
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Schlaack, who is challenging Republican incumbent Brian BeGole in Michigan’s 71st House District, says that he owns Owosso Farmers Market LLC, which operates the downtown market.
A Request, Not an Order?
The controversy began when representatives of the Shiawassee County Republican Party distributed yard signs near the market. Schlaack said he approached them to request that people receiving signs walk around the market rather than through it.
“It was a voluntary request, not an order. They were free to say no,” Schlaack wrote. He explained that his request wasn’t well received and resulted in raised voices and arguments involving several people. He added, “My concern shifted from the signs to preventing a confrontation from escalating around families, children, shoppers, and small-business owners.”
He maintained that market rules prohibiting political and religious activities apply to participating vendors, not people using public sidewalks. He said those rules existed before he took ownership in October 2024 and have been applied regardless of political affiliation. Schlaack also acknowledged that the market has no authority to restrict political expression on public sidewalks.
Schlaack Clarifies His 911 Call
Schlaack acknowledged that his previous statement denying he asked anyone to leave was too broad. “I did not initially ask the distributors to leave because of their signs, but I did ask those involved to leave once the confrontation became heated,” he explained.
He said his call to police was intended to prevent the argument from escalating, not to punish anyone for political expression. Schlaack defended using 911 rather than a nonemergency number, saying the local non-emergency line is not reliably monitored on weekends.
What About the Democrat Who Set Up Shop?
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Republicans previously questioned why Democratic candidate William Lawrence was permitted to set up a desk and chair near the market in August.
Schlaack said Lawrence was on a public sidewalk outside the market’s operating area and was never approved as a vendor.
“The same sidewalk distinction would apply to a Republican candidate,” he said.
Stepping Away From the Market
Schlaack said he will not attend the remaining markets or events this year, arguing that vendors should not suffer because of political controversy surrounding his candidacy.
“The market is not a campaign activity, and it should never become collateral damage in a political disagreement involving me,” he wrote.
He also acknowledged that he could have handled the October 10 encounter differently.
“I could have communicated my request more clearly, and I regret that it developed into an argument. I respect the rights of Republicans, Democrats, and everyone else to express their political views. What I wanted was voluntary consideration for the people working and shopping at the market, not suppression of anyone’s speech.”
The dispute ultimately centers on whether an effort to keep politics out of the farmers market crossed the line into restricting political expression in public spaces. The Republicans say it did. Schlaack maintains that was never his intention.
