Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 8
Gender: Female
Age at election: 36
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 3/17/1954
City: Jackson, MI
County: Jackson County MI
Country: US
Death
Date:
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Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
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Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married James E. Byrum; children: Barbara Anne, James Richard.
Number of Children: 2
Background
Religion: Congregationalist
Military Service:
Occupation: hardware store owner and operator
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
AA, Lansing Community College
BS cum laude, Michigan State University
Biographical Sketch:
Daughter of Cecil Dershem & Mary Dershem. Owner of Blackhawk Hardware, Leslie, MI, 1983—, Panther Hardware, Stockbridge, 1991— . Member Michigan Retail Hardware Association, Lansing Regional C. of C., South Lansing Business Association, South Lansing-Everett Kiwanis. Recipient Distinguished Citizen award Ingham County Soil Conservation District, 1991, Distinguished Alumnus award Lansing Community College, 1993. 8 year Ingham County Commissioner.
Notable Facts:
First woman to run a MI legislative caucus. Committees: Minority vice chair Agriculture & Forestry; Health Policy; & Senior Citizens; member Tech. & Energy, Capitol; chair dem. caucus.
Mother of Rep. Barb Byrum
Sessions Served:
Postions Held: Minority Leader
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Delhi, Leroy, Locke, Wheatfield, Vevay, Ingham White Oak, Onondaga, Leslie, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; cities of Bell Oak, Holt, Aurelius, North Aurelius, Williamston, Vantown, Eden, Mason, Dansville, Millville, Kinneville, Leslie, Onondaga, Bunker Hill, Fitchburg and Stockbridge and part of Lansing [see map in Manual p.177]
Reason for Leaving Office: Term Limited
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Min. Vice-Chair of the Legislative Council
Committees Served On: Accounts and Expenditures
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Delhi, Leroy, Locke, Wheatfield, Vevay, Ingham, White Oak, Onondaga, Leslie, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; cities of Bell Oak, Holt, Aurelius, North Aurelius, Williamston, Vantown, Eden, Mason, Dansville, Millville, Kinneville, Leslie, Onondaga, Bunker Hill, Fitchburg and Stockbridge and part of Lansing [see map in Manual p.173]
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: She also served as House Minority Leader. In addition she served on the Legislative Council and the House Television and Oversight Committee.
Committees Served On: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems, Health Policy , Hunting, Fishing and Forestry, Technology and Energy , Michigan Capitol Committee
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Leroy, Locke, Wheatfield, Vevay, Ingham, Meridian, Williamstown, White Oak, Onondaga, Leslie, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; cities of Williamston, Mason, Leslie, East Lansing and part of Lansing [see map in Manual p.143] in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Minority Vice-Chair: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems; Health Policy; Technology and Energy.
Committees Served On: Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems, Finance , Government Operations , Health Policy , Michigan Capitol Committee, Technology and Energy
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Leroy, Locke, Wheatfield, Vevay, Ingham, Meridian, Williamstown, White Oak, Onondaga, Leslie, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; cities of Williamston, Mason, Leslie, East Lansing and part of Lansing [see map in Manual p.143] in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: Term Limited
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Left Senate due to term limits but was relected to House district 67 again in 2002.
Min. Vice-Chair of the Committees on Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems; Government Operations; Health Policy; and Technology and Energy
Committees Served On: Health Policy and Senior Citizens, Technology and Energy
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Leroy, Locke, Wheatfield, Vevay, Ingham, Meridian, Williamstown, White Oak, Onondaga, Leslie, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; cities of Williamston, Mason, Leslie, East Lansing and part of Lansing [see map in Manual p.143] in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: She also served as a member of the Michigan Capitol Committee and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Committees Served On: Agricultural and Forestry, Michigan Capitol Committee, Health Policy and Senior Citizens, Technology and Energy
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Leroy, Locke, Wheatfield, Vevay, Ingham, Meridian, Williamstown, White Oak, Onondaga, Leslie, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; cities of Williamston, Mason, Leslie, East Lansing and part of Lansing [see map in Manual p.142] in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
Notes: Vice-Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry;
Democratic Caucus Chairman
Committees Served On: Liquor Control , Transportation , Conservation, Environment and Great Lakes, Education , Local Government
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Twps of Alaidon, Aurelius, Delhi Charter and Lansing (pt--tracts 17.01, 17.02, 34 and 35); city of Lansing pt-tracts 15, 17.01, 17.02, 19, 24-27, 34, 35, 36.01, 36.02, 37, 51, 52.01, 52.02, 52.03 and 55.01
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: 1994 elected to the State Senate for the 26th district
Committees Served On: Agriculture, Forestry and Minerals, Conservation, Recreation and Environment, Economic Development & Energy , Education , Towns and Counties
City of Residence: Onondaga
County of Residence Ingham
District Description: Townships of Delhi, Alaiedon, Leroy, Aurelius, Vevay, Ingham, White Oak, Onondaga, Bunker Hill and Stockbridge; city of Mason and part of the city of Lansing in Ingham County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Maj. Vice-Chair of the Committees on Education; and Towns and Counties
Bibliography:
WWAM50th; MICAP flier 1997; Manual 1999 p.143; Capitol2005 p.35