Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 6
Gender: Female
Age at election: 49
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 4/1/1949
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
husband John; children: Jessica, Rachel and Michael Allen
Number of Children: 3
Background
Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: teacher
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Education degree and master's in behavioral science from University of Michigan;
Biographical Sketch:
Former administrative assistant to Senator Doug Ross; special education teacher in the Madison School District; Development Director for JARC (a Jewish association providing residential care for persons with developmental disabilities). Her community contributions include efforts through the South Oakland NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. She served as Oakland County commissioner and was the first woman elected to the Huntington Woods City Commission. She was also mayor pro tem of Huntington Woods; development director for JARC. When teaching, she was a special education teacher. After leaving office, she was CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. In 2010, she became president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services.
Notable Facts:
Served in both chambers.
Minority Caucus Chair.
First woman elected to Huntington Woods City Commission, 1971;
First woman to be a floor leader in either the House or the Senate.
Inducted into the [Michigan] HERstrory Women's Hall of Fame, November 2019
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Campaign and Election Oversight, Economic Development and Regulatory Reform, Families and Human Services , Finance , Health Policy
City of Residence: Huntington Woods
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Southfield; Royal Oak township and parts of Southfield township [see map in Manual p.140]
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Min. Vice-Chair of the Committees on Campaign and Election Oversight; and Families and Human Services
Committees Served On: Campaign and Election Oversight, Economic Development and Regulatory Reform, Families and Human Services , Finance , Health Policy
Postions Held: Democratic Caucus Leader
City of Residence: Huntington Woods
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Southfield; Royal Oak township and parts of Southfield township [see map in Manual p.159]
Reason for Leaving Office: Term Limited
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Min. Vice-Chair of the Committees on Campaign and Election Oversight; Families and Human Services; and Finance
Committees Served On: Economic Development, Small Business and Regulatory Reform , Families and Human Services , Government Operations , Health Policy
City of Residence: Huntington Woods
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Southfield; Royal Oak township and parts of Southfield township [see map in Manual p.139]
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: She also served on the Legislative Council.
Committees Served On: Economic Development, Small Business and Regulatory Reform , Families and Human Services , Government Operations , Health Policy
Postions Held: Assistant Democratic Floor Leader
City of Residence: Huntington Woods
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and Southfield; Royal Oak township and parts of Southfield township [see map in Manual p.139]
Reason for Leaving Office:
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Min.Vice-Chair of the Committees on Economic Development, Small Business and Regulatory Reform; and Families and Human Services.
Alternate on the Legislative Council
Committees Served On: House Oversight and Operations, House Television and Oversight
Postions Held: Minority Floor Leader
City of Residence: Huntington Woods
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Part of Royal Oak Township [see map in Manual p.226] and cities of Berkley, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Ferndale and Pleasant Grove in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Min. Vice-Chair of the Committee on House Television and Oversight
Min. Vice-Chair of the Legislative Council
Elected to the state Senate for district 14 in 2002.
Committees Served On: Criminal Law and Corrections, Family and Children's Services , Health Policy , House Television and Oversight
Postions Held: Assistant Minority Floor Leader
City of Residence: Huntington Woods
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Part of Royal Oak Township [see map in Manual p.229] and cities of Berkley, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Ferndale and Pleasant Grove in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
Capitol2009 p.19; 2010 SJ Dec 1, SR207; Crain's Detroit 2/4/2017; Crain's Detroit 10/14/2019
