Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 7
Gender: Female
Age at election: 36
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 4/17/1946
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Death
Date: 3/2/2018
City: West Bloomfield, MI
County: Oakland County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 3/5/2018
City: Ferndale, MI
County: Oakland County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Machpelah Cemetery
Marital Information:
Number of Children: 0
Background
Religion: Jewish
Military Service:
Occupation: teacher, businesswoman
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
BA, University Michigan, 1968
Biographical Sketch:
Daughter of Maeyer and Sophie Berman.She grew up in Oak Park, MI. She taught English at Oak Park High School, 1968-78; did public relations, freelance writing & community research, 1978-82; member Michigan Job Training Coordinator Council; member Jewish Vocational Service; board directors telecommunications adv. committee Lawrence Institute Tech. vice chairman Member executive board 17th District & Oakland County Dem. Committee, Michigan Dem. Women's Caucus; chairman Michigan Women's Campaign Fund, 1989; member Michigan Dem. Agricultural Party; member National Organization of Women, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, League of Women Voters, National Council Jewish Women, Detroit Women's Forum, Gray Panthers. Served as Gov. Granholm's director of special projects, 2009-13. She was the first woman to serve as Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at Central Michigan University. After leaving the legislature she founded Capitol Strategies, Inc., focused on advocacy training and political consulting. She also founded the Women's Health Network of Michigan.
Notable Facts:
Inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2015.
She was an advocate for women's health; made Michigan the first state to require accreditation for mammogram facilities.
Wrote a book about her time in the male dominated legislature, 'the Only Boobs in the House Are Men'
Died of lung cancer.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Appropriations , Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health, Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid (K-12) & Dept of Education
Postions Held: Assistant Majority Floor Leader
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: City of Southfield and Village of Lathrop in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Public Health; and School Aid (K-12) & Dept of Education
Committees Served On: Appropriations
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Lathrup Village and Southfield in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Appropriations
Postions Held: Assistant Majority Floor Leader
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Part of Oakland County including city of Southfield and Lathrop Village
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Consumers, Economic Development & Energy , House Oversight , Taxation , Elections
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Southfield and Lathrup in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Elections; Vice-Chair of the Committee on Consumers
Committees Served On: Consumers, Economic Development & Energy , Elections , Taxation , House Oversight
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Southfield and Lathrup in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Consumers, Economic Development & Energy , House Oversight , Labor , Taxation
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Southfield and Lathrup in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Vice-Chair of the Committee on Consumers
Committees Served On: Consumers, Economic Development & Energy , House Policy , Labor , Urban Affairs
City of Residence: Southfield
County of Residence Oakland
District Description: Cities of Southfield and Lathrup in Oakland County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Maj. Vice-Chair of the Committee on Consumers
Bibliography:
WWMW26th; Manual 1985 p.141; MICC1995 p.40; DetNews 3/4/2018 online, includes photo; DFP 3/2/2018 online, includes photo; House Res 0302 of 2018
