Paul Mitchell

Paul Mitchell III (November 14, 1956 – August 15, 2021) was an American businessman and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party for most of his Congressional tenure, he left the party in December 2020, three weeks prior to his departure from Congress, and became an independent. In July 2019, Mitchell announced that he would not run for re-election in 2020 to spend more time with his family. Early life, family and education Mitchell was born in Boston, Massachusetts. The oldest of six children, he was raised in Waterford Township, Michigan. Mitchell graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in 1978. Career before politics Paul Mitchell previously owned and operated Ross Medical Education Center. He ran for the 32nd district seat in the Michigan State Senate in 2013 to succeed Roger Kahn, but withdrew from the race. He became the chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition of Michigan, a conservative nonprofit foundation. Mitchell led a campaign opposed to Proposal 1, a ballot proposition proposing a tax plan for roads, on the May 2015 ballot.