EXPERIENCE

2001-present:             Michigan State Senator, 2nd District, representing portions of Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods, and the Grosse Pointes. Elected by special election in 2001; re-elected by general election to a four-year term in 2002. Vocal advocate for automobile and homeowners insurance reform in Michigan. Created the website www.insuranceredlining.com to provide a source of information sharing on Michigan insurance rates; contains information on proposed legislation, as well as a petition for Michigan residents to share their insurance story. Serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sub-committee appointments: Vice Chairperson of Department of Human Resources, Agriculture, and Commerce, Labor & Economic Development; member of Capital Outlay.

1995-2001:      Michigan Representative, 6th House District, representing Highland Park, Hamtramck, and portions of Detroit. Elected by general election to a two-year term in 1994; re-elected to two-year terms in 1996 and 1998. Served on the House Education and Insurance committees and the Task Force committees for Corrections, Education, Higher Education and Transportation. Secured funding for the restoration of Davison Freeway and for Highland Park Community College.

1988-1992:      Mayor, City of Highland Park.

1984-1987:      President, Highland Park City Council.

1979:               Vice-Chair, Wayne County Civil Service Commission.

1977:               Wayne County Board of Commissioners.

1972:               Democratic Precinct Delegate.

1960-1986:      Michigan Bell, retired.

MAJOR LEGISLATION

Senate Bill 1125 of 2006 (Public Act 508), which prohibits imposter groups from performing as established musical groups when there are no original members remaining in the group.

Senate Bill 1198 of 2006 (Public Act 286), which mandates lead poisoning testing for all children enrolled in the Women, Infant & Children (WIC) supplemental food program.

Senate Bill 1142 of 2006 (Public Act 207), part of the legislative package establishes a new Bureau of Fire Services intended to consolidate fire-fighting resources and promote more effective and efficient fire-fighting techniques. 

Senate Bill 384 of 2005 (Public Act 48), which established the third Saturday of every June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Michigan, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States, and which designated November 26 of every year as Sojourner Truth Day, in honor of the Underground Railroad and emancipation leader of the 1800s.

Senate Bill 529 of 2005 (Public Act 338), the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act, which allows eligible local governments to designate Neighborhood Enterprise Zones to encourage neighborhood revitalization by lowering property taxes on new or rehabilitated housing.

Senate Bill 753 of 2003 (Public Act 431), which established the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Commission. 

Senate Bill 1005 of 2002 (Public Act 125), which requires hospitals to maintain a plan for biohazard detection and handling.

Senate Bill 410 of 2001 (Public Act 155), which amended the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to increase the felony threshold and establish graduated sanctions for various offenses involving illegally obtained money or property.

Senate Bill 736 of 2001 (Public Act 193), which provided for domestic violence training for Friend of the Court employees.

House Bill 4620 of 2000 (Public Act 35), which provides for foreign state reciprocity for insurance adjusters doing business in Michigan.

House Bill 5175 of 1995 (Public Act 241), which required the Friend of the Court to initiate enforcement of an order requiring a parent to provide dependent health coverage if the parent failed to obtain or maintain that coverage.

MEMBERSHIPS

AWARDS

EDUCATION

CONFERENCES

• Women in Government Outreach to Vulnerable Populations, Scottsdale, AZ, April 2008
• National Black Caucus of State Legislators Region IX Meeting, Detroit, MI, April 2008
• Women in Government Mental Health Task Force Meeting, Point Clear, AL, March 2008
• Council of State Governments Healthy States Partnership Healthy States Forum, Hutchinson Island, FL, February 2008
• National Foundation for Women Legislators Trip to Taiwan, January 2008
• Women in Government Annual State Directors Conference, Phoenix, AZ, January 2008
• National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women Executive Board meeting, Little Rock, AR, December 2007
• Women in Government HPV & Cervical Cancer Summit, Washington, DC, November 2007
• National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women Executive Board Symposium Tap Dancin’ on My Last Nerve: Innovations in Mental Health, Portland, OR, October 2007
• Women in Government Older & Wiser: Women & Heart Disease Task Force Meeting, St. Michaels, MD, October 2007
• National Foundation of Women Legislators Annual Conference, Louisville, KY, October 2007
• Council of State Governments Midwestern Legislative Conference, Traverse City, MI, August 2007
• Women in Government HPV & Cervical Cancer State Legislative Task Force Meeting, Sundance, UT, August 2007
• National Conference of State Legislators Kinship Care Legislative Policy Network, Boston, MA, August 2007
• Council of State Governments Academy on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity, Hilton Head, SC, July 2007 (Presenter on Physical Education)
• National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women Annual Conference, Memphis, TN, June 2007
• Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference, Mackinac Island, MI, June 2007
• National Congress of Black Women Memorial for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Palm Coast, FL, February 2007
• National Black Caucus of State Legislators Annual Meeting, Jackson, MS, November 2006
• National Foundation of Women Legislators Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 2006
• Council of State Governments Policies to Promote Healthy Lifestyles: Childhood and Beyond, Memphis, TN, September 2006
• National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women Annual Conference, Portland, OR, June 2006
• Women in Government Midwestern Regional Conference, Cincinnati, OH, June 2006
• Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference, Mackinac Island, MI, June 2006
• Women in Government Outreach to Vulnerable Constituents Workshop, Alexandria, VA, May 2006
• Michigan’s Children’s Caucus, Early Childhood Education Field Trip, Chicago, IL, March 2006
• Emily's List Political Opportunity Program Training, Detroit, MI, March 2006
• Women in Government State Directors Conference, Phoenix, AZ, January 2006
• National Black Conference of State Legislators Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, December 2005
• Women Legislators’ Lobby/Women’s Action for New Directions National Conference, Washington, DC, September 2005
• National Foundation for Women Legislators Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ, September 2005
• National Black Caucus of State Legislators Diabetes Summit, Naples, FL, August 2005
• Women in Government Midwestern Regional Conference, Bay Harbor, MI, July 2005
• Center for Women Policy Studies’ Foreign Policy Institute for State Legislators, Washington, DC, July 2005
• National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 2005
• National Black Caucus of State Legislators 6th Annual Housing Symposium, Washington, DC, June 2005
• Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference, Mackinac Island, MI, June 2005
• Women in Government National Summit of State Offices of Women Health, Tucson, AZ, March 2005
• National Foundation of Women Legislators Annual Conference, Sarasota, FL, November 2004
• Women in Government Midwestern Regional Conference, Indianapolis, IN, September 2004
• National Foundation for Women Legislators Trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Middle East, September 2004
• Democratic National Convention, Boston, MA, July 2004
• National Organization of Black Elected Legislators-Women Annual Conference, Tampa, FL, June 2004
• Women in Government National Summit of State Offices of Women’s Health, Tucson, AZ, March 2004
• National Foundation for Women Legislators Women Lawmakers Networking Day, Washington, DC, February 2004
• Council on State Governments Executive Briefing on Innovations in Prescription Drug Purchasing, New Orleans, LA, February 2004
• Second Chance Program Presentation and Tour, Puerto Rico, January 2004
• National Policy Academy on Homeless Families and Children, Miami, FL, January 2004
• Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, Washington, DC, September 2993
• Council of State Governments Health Policy Forum on Health Literacy, Newport, RI, September 2003
• Upper Peninsula Education Summit, Marquette, MI, September 2003
• National Foundation for Women Legislators Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, August 2003
• Women in Government 10th Annual Midwestern Regional Conference, Chicago, IL, August 2003
• BAMN Civil Rights March to the Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., April 2003