Seventeen Michigan Elected Officials and Public Figures Endorse Governor Howard Dean for President
LANSING, MI – Building on the growing grassroots support of Michiganders, seventeen Michigan elected officials and public figures yesterday endorsed Governor Howard Dean for president at a press conference in Lansing, Michigan.
Representative Virgil Smith, the youngest democratic member of the state legislature, said, “I admire Governor Dean’s strong healthcare record in Vermont where 92% of adults and nearly all children have coverage. There is a healthcare crisis in Detroit and we need a strong and proven leader in the White House on issues like healthcare.”
The cross-generational appeal of Governor Dean’s message has also earned him the support of the oldest member of the state legislature, Representative Aldo Vagnozzi. “I’m supporting Governor Dean because I believe that he is the one person who can lead us into economic recovery and into a peaceful future,” said Vagnozzi.
"Governor Howard Dean's grassroots campaign for America has invigorated -- and significantly expanded -- the Democratic base we will need to capture the White House, Congress and legislative bodies throughout the country in 2004,” said State Rep. Andy Meisner. “We elected officials are committed to carrying Governor Dean's message in Michigan and ensuring victory in February and November."
"I'm thrilled to receive the endorsement of so many great Michigan Democrats. They have shown terrific leadership in their state, and I look forward to working with them to take back the White House next November and to help bring jobs back to Michigan again," Governor Dean said.
These individuals will join the growing numbers of Michigan supporters who are building a grassroots network for Governor Dean, including nearly 3,000 who have signed up for MeetUps in Michigan and over 4,000 Michigan contributors who helped Governor Dean’s record setting third quarter.
The list of endorsers is as follows:
1. Ed Bruley is the Chairman of the Macomb County Democratic Party and was a long aide to then Rep. David Bonior. He was recently named as one of the top fifty Democratic Insiders in the country by the National Journal.
2. Fmr. Congressman Bob Carr – In eighteen years as a Member of the US House of Representatives serving Michigan’s 7th District, Mr. Carr served in a number of leadership positions. He was a Whip at-Large Whip as well as chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. Mr. Carr also served as Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary. He specialized in commerce issues relating to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
3. Alisa Diez is the 10th Congressional District Democratic Chairwoman.
4. Mark R. Fox has served as an advisor and political consultant to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, among others. He was a senior campaign aide to President Jimmy Carter and Governor Michael Dukakis in their presidential campaigns. Following his graduation from the University of Vermont, Mr. Fox served on the Washington, D.C. staff of U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, D-VT. Mr. Fox is currently a managing partner of the Michigan law firm of Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap, P.C.
5. State Rep. Paul Gieleghem was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1998, and is serving his final term. He has been a member of the House Committee on Education all three sessions, and is presently the committee’s as the Democratic Vice Chair. Rep. Gieleghem is again a member of the Land Use & Environment Committee, and also sits on the Regulatory Reform Committee. He has served on Democratic Task Forces on Land Use, Racial Profiling, Nursing Home Reform, Educational Quality and co-chaired the Democratic Task Force on In-Home Care.
6. Peter D. Houk has 35 years of experience in public service, having served as Lansing City Attorney, Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney, and Ingham County Circuit Judge. Judge Houk was twice named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan’s Most Respected Judges. Judge Houk was the top Democratic vote-getter in Ingham County in all three of his successful campaigns for Prosecutor, and he was also the top vote-getter in each of his three successful campaigns for Judge. In December 2002, he retired as Chief Judge of the Ingham Circuit Court and joined the Michigan law firm of Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap, P.C. as a partner.
7. Former State Representative Lynn Jondahl served as Michigan State Representative from the East Lansing/Meridian Township area from 1973 to 1994. He chaired the House Taxation Committee for 12 years from 1983 through 1994. Prior to that he chaired the House Consumers Committee. His House committee assignments were varied, including committees dealing with: utility regulation, economic development, higher education, education reform, juvenile justice, and death and dying. In 1994, Lynn was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Michigan. Served as the Transition Team Chairman to Governor Jennifer Granholm and is currently the Executive Director of Michigan Prospect.
8. State Representative Andrew Meisner was raised within the boundaries of District 27. He is a graduate of Berkley High School and the University of Michigan. Meisner is continuing his studies as a law student at the University of Detroit Mercy. Meisner worked for Congressman Sander Levin as a Legislative Assistant responsible for policy relating to crime, community-oriented policing, community coalitions, drug courts, unemployment compensation, and foreign affairs including the Middle East.
9. Macomb County Commissioner Robert Mijac is a graduate of Sterling Heights High School (1989). He received a Bachelor Degree in Economics from Michigan State University (1994) and a Master Degree in Finance from Wayne State University (1998). Commissioner Mijac currently serves as Chairman of the Personnel Committee, and is also a member of the Board of Commissioners Budget, Community Services, Finance, Legislative and Administrative Services and Planning & Economic Development Committees. Commissioner Mijac is involved in the community in numerous ways by serving as a member of the Clinton River Watershed Council, Adopt-A-Road Cleanup and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Lake St. Clair.
10. Timothy Morse is the Treasurer of the St. Clair County Democratic Committee
11. Former State Senator Lana Pollack – Michigan Environmental Council President. The Senate's only Democratic woman for eight years, Pollack became a leading advocate for the environment, children and women's rights. She also earned praise as the architect of Michigan's landmark 1990 polluter pay statute which, before it was replaced in 1995, saved taxpayers $100 million by forcing polluters to pay for the cleanup of toxic waste. Pollack also established statewide coalitions to prevent gun violence and teenage pregnancy. In 2002, Pollack was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
12. Joe Slabbinek is the former Democratic Chair of 10th Congressional District Democrats.
13. State Representative Virgil Smith represents the 7th legislative district in Detroit currently serving on the Education and Higher Education Committees. Rep. Smith is the youngest democratic member of the state legislature.
14. Stanley Stewart is the democratic Vice-Chair of the 15th Congressional District.
15. State Senator Michael “Mickey” Switalski serves the 10th District in Macomb County. Is a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Judiciary and Corrections Committee. His political career began with his elevation to the Roseville City Council in 1989. He was elected Macomb County Commissioner in 1992 and Michigan State Representative in 1998.
16. Terence Thomas is the Senior Vice-President for External Affairs of St. John Health System. Former principal at the law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, P.L.C. Michigan Supreme Court, Detroit, Michigan Judicial Clerk to Chief Justice Conrad L. Mallett, Jr., Kwame Kilpatrick for Mayor Committee General Counsel, 2001, Committee to Reelect Samuel Buzz Thomas III, Campaign Chairman, 2000.
17. State Representative Aldo Vagnozzi (D-Farmington/Farmington Hills) is currently serving his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Rep. Vagnozzi serves on the House Education and Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committees. Rep. Vagnozzi holds the distinction of being the first directly-elected Mayor of Farmington Hills, a position he held for five years.
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