Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 2
Gender: Male
Age at election: 52
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 2/14/1954
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date:
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Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
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Marital Information:
married Betty about 1978; children: Robert A. and Nathan H.
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: minister
Race: African American or Negro or Black
Education:
graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School, 1972;
attended Grand Rapids School of Bible & Music;
attended Ferris State University
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Henry and Lillie Dean. After graduatig from high school he worked for Interstate Brands Corp. in Grand Rapids, where he also was an AFL-CIO union member for 7 years. Henry Dean worked at Owens Aims and Kimball Construction in Grand Rapids and Lillie worked at a local nursing home. Growing up, the family attended the Guiding Light Church of God and Christ in Grand Rapids. In 1980, Rep. Dean founded the New Life Church of God in Christ and has been its Pastor for 26 years. Served on the Grand Rapids School Board from 1990 to 1996, serving as president from 1995 to 1996. In 1999, he was elected City Commissioner and served until he resigned in 2006 to campaign for the State House of Representatives; he Cserved as president of the city commission from 2002 to 2003.
Notable Facts:
Assistant Majority Floor Leader
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Appropriations Subcommittee on Investigations, Intergovernmental Affairs & Oversight, Appropriations Subcommittee on Joint Capital Outlay, Appropriations Subcommittee on Special Governmental Operations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Supplementals, Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation
Postions Held: Assistant Democratic Floor Leader
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Part of the city of Grand Rapids [see map in Manual p. 208] in Kent County
Reason for Leaving Office:
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Special Governmental Operations; Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Investigations, Intergovernmental Affairs & Oversight; Joint Capital Outlay; and Supplementals
Committees Served On: Commerce , Education , Families and Children's Services, Military and Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security
Postions Held: Assistant Associate Floor Leader
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
District Description: Part of the city of Grand Rapids [see map in Manual p. 191] in Kent County
Reason for Leaving Office:
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Vice-Chair of the Committee on Families and Children's Services
Alternate for the Legislative Council
Bibliography:
rep's web page 2010; Capitol2009 p.37
He left the House at the end of the 95th Legislature, 2010, and ran for the 29th Senate District in the Democratic Primary, but he lost.
