MI List 2008 Targeted Candidates
- Lisa Brown - 39 HD
- Deb Kennedy - 23 HD
- Garnet Lewis - 98 HD
- Ellen Cogen Lipton - 27 HD
- Julie Rogers - 61 HD
- Judy Truesdell - 78 HD
- Mary Valentine - 91 HD
Lisa Brown - 39 HD
Lisa Brown, candidate for Michigan's 39th House district
Lisa Brown lives in West Bloomfield and is a lifelong resident of Oakland County. She graduated from Andover High School, then went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Detroit College of Law.
"I've lived in this community my whole life," Brown said. "I'm not a career politician. I'm running for office because the people of West Bloomfield, Commerce Township and Wolverine Lake need a strong voice in Lansing. We need someone who will offer real solutions to the challenges facing our state."
Brown serves on the PTO at both Pine Lake Elementary School and West Hills Middle School. She is a member of the State Bar but does not practice law. She is a Realtor working at Max Broock Realtors in Bloomfield Hills, and is a member of the National Association of Realtors and Michigan Consolidated Association of Realtors. Brown is a member of Adat Shalom Synagogue and serves on JARC's board of directors.
Garnet Lewis - 98 HD
Garnet Lewis, candidate for Michigan's 98th House district
Garnet Lewis of Saginaw County's Tittabawassee Township is running for the State Representative seat in the 98th District in Michigan.
Lewis has a rich background in politics and community involvement. She founded the Saginaw Area Democratic Club and subsequently has served as President. In that capacity, she has been a force in several Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) campaigns, including those of Governor Jennifer Granholm and State Representative Andy Coulouris. She also organized door to door efforts to defeat Proposal 2 in 2006. She is an elected Democratic Precinct Delegate.
Garnet currently serves as the associate director for professional education at Central Michigan University and has worked in higher education for 24 years. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of North Texas, a master's degree from Northern Michigan University and a bachelor's degree from Truman State University in Missouri.
While Lewis's educational background, her professional expertise, and her service orientation uniquely suit her for political office, the central message of the campaign addresses education, economy, and healthcare-the three elements of a vital and growing society. Garnet stresses that affordable higher education will ensure the vibrancy of Michigan's future economy.
For information visit www.garnetlewis2008.com.
Deb Kennedy - 23 HD
Deb Kennedy, candidate for Michigan's 23rd House district
A self employed businesswoman for nearly 30 years, Deb was formerly in the social work field. She and her husband have two young adult sons.
Deb is currently elected to the Woodhaven Brownstown Board of Education, and has been a community activist for women, education, environmental and social issues. Instrumental in working with Katrina victims displaced to southeast Michigan and bringing a free mammogram program to her community, she is a leader that shares a vision and enlists others to work together to achieve it.
Ellen Cogen Lipton - 27 HD
Ellen Cogen Lipton, candidate for Michigan's 27th House district
Ellen Cogen Lipton is a patent attorney, a Harvard Law School graduate, and she holds a BS in Chemistry from Williams College. She lives in Huntington Woods with her husband, Marc, and her two children, Corey, 8, and Celia, 5.
Ellen is President of the Michigan Ambassadors for the Weizmann Institute, one of the world's foremost medical research institutes. She lectures for Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research and Cures. She believes that Michigan should lead the way in bio medical research - innovative policies can create a new source of high paying jobs for Southeast Michigan Families, and bring new hope to families who battle chronic illness.
Ellen has been closely involved in Local and State government. She created, organized, and ran the Berkely Educational Foundation's first annual "Read in the Park" - the primary fundraiser for the Berkley School District. She is a third term member of the Huntington Woods Zoning Board of Appeals. She was asked to be a member of the city's ad hoc committee on financial stability and the budget. Last year, she was appointed by Governor Granholm to be the public representative on the State Board of Accountancy. Ellen completed a fellowship with the Center for Progressive Leadership earlier this year.
She is also heavily involved in local and national charities, including Jewish Federation, where she sits on the steering committee for the Class of a Million.
For more information visit www.voteforellen.org.
Julie Rogers - 61 HD
Julie Rogers, candidate for Michigan's 61st House district
From the beginning of her professional career, Julie has been actively engaged in politics, particularly on the health care front. For nearly 10 years, she has fought hard for the rights of Michigan's citizens by advocating for adequate Medicare coverage. In 2007, as the Michigan Physical Therapy Federal Affairs Liaison, she met with US Representative Fred Upton and achieved personal endorsement for a bill to maintain Medicare benefits. She practices as a Physical Therapist at both local hospitals in Kalamazoo.
During the 2006 campaign, Rogers was very narrowly defeated in her quest for State Representative. She received 49.44% of the vote in the 61st District. She is back in the fight for the same house seat which is now open due to term limits.
For more information visit www.juliemrogers.com and check out MLive.com.
Judy Truesdell - 78 HD
Judy Truesdell, candidate for Michigan's 78th House district
For over 35 years, Judy and he husband Terry have worked together as partners starting and operating three successful and innovative businesses including IDI Design Group, Inc, the company they currently own and operate. In 1980 Judy began one of the first woman-owned and operated manufacturing companies in the area called Tree Play, Inc. producing redwood play structures for children. Today, Judy and her daughter operate the internationally recognized online company called Cupcaketree.com that they began together.
Judy has served for more than ten years as an elected Trustee of Lake Michigan College - a position she has won overwhelmingly in two elections. As a long-time community leader, Judy has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations including several community foundations. She also was a founding member of Save Local Agriculture, a non profit organization started in 2007 that is dedicated to protecting the region's agricultural heritage.
Judy, who was born and raised in Pontiac, has lived with her husband Terry for almost 40 years in his hometown of Niles. Their daughter Meg is married and has 2 small daughters, Laura and Kate, Judy and Terry's pride and joy.
Judy's experiences in business, her long-time and well-recognized community and philanthropic leadership and her name recognition as a trustee and 2006 candidate put her at a distinct advantage to win this open seat in November.
You can learn more about Judy at www.judyjudyjudy.org.
Mary Valentine - 91 HD
Mary Valentine, candidate for Michigan's 91st House district
More info will be available soon.
They've all been asked!
200 Michigan women have now graduated from the candidate training co-hosted by MI List and EMILY's List. They have all been asked to run for political office and given the tools to win!
The first of three candidate trainings for the 2008 cycle was held in Detroit on October 19th and 20th. State Senator Martha Scott, 2nd District and Judge Margie Braxton, Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court kicked off the weekend with their political stories and sage advice. They reminded us that perseverance is a large part of victory and that it is never too early to take that first step towards running.
Senator Scott and Judge Braxton agreed that public service is a uniquely fulfilling profession, well worth the effort it requires.
MI List News Archives
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- MI List visits with the new Speaker of the House
- Benton Harbor Candidate Training Success!
