DEXTER, Mich. Americans for Public Trust (APT), a political watchdog group, has asked the Michigan inspector general to investigate allegations against Democratic congressional candidate Curtis Hertel Jr. regarding his alleged misuse of public funds and connections in landing a well-paying job in health care.
Hertel is a former state legislator from a prominent Michigan political family and is currently running for the Wolverine State’s 7th Congressional District, a highly competitive race this election cycle. APT claims that Hertel misused taxpayer funds as a lobbyist for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by helping deliver millions to a health company where he would later work.
Hertel served as Whitmer’s director of legislative affairs when her administration passed an $82 billion budget last year, and he was deeply involved in the budget negotiations. The budget allocated $1.5 billion to the Greater Flint Health Coalition, which is led by a former colleague of Hertel’s. Just days after the budget passed, Hertel resigned from Whitmer’s administration to take a job at the health-care organization he had just helped financially support. His new position paid him $108,000 annually.
Ananich, President of the Greater Flint Health Coalition, acknowledged that he first discussed the possibility of Hertel working with the company while the latter was still in the governor’s office but dismissed suspicions of political motivations behind the hiring. He’s a talented guy, and these are big projects,” Ananich told The Detroit News.
Hertel’s personal ties to Michigan’s health industry do not end there; his wife, Elizabeth Hertel, is the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This department has been involved in procuring contracts for the Greater Flint Health Coalition.
The letter submitted by APT presents the same claims that were outlined in a 2023 Detroit News article, highlighting the close relationships between groups seeking assistance from state government officials who can provide it. In response to the Detroit News story, Hertel denied any personal involvement in allocating the $1.5 million to his future employer but acknowledged his general involvement in negotiating the budget.
Upon his resignation, the Whitmer administration praised Hertel for “successfully leading negotiations on behalf of the Governor, securing the historic ‘Make it in Michigan’ budget.
APT is urging the Michigan inspector general to investigate the ties between Hertel’s political and private affairs and hopes the letter prompts some answers from Hertel and his campaign. While we would encourage him to respond to a reporter’s inquiry, you really cannot ignore a governing body of the situation,” APT Director Caitlin Sutherland told The Post.
Sutherland noted that Hertel ignored questions from the Detroit Free Press about the scandal. APT is a nonpartisan nonprofit “dedicated to restoring public trust in government by holding politicians and political groups accountable for corrupt and unethical behavior.
Hertel’s congressional campaign did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
