Preceded by John J. Gleason Succeeded by Delrico Loyd Spouse Andrea Ananich Role Politician | Succeeded by Dale Weighill Name Jim Ananich Preceded by Lee Gonzales Constituency City of Flint Party Democratic Party | |
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Residence Flint, Michigan, United States Education Michigan State University, University of Michigan–Flint, University of Michigan Similar People Dan Kildee, Curtis Hertel Jr, Hoon‑Yung Hopgood, Virgil Smith - Jr, Woodrow Stanley | ||
Constituency City of Flint 7th Ward | ||
Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich on roads plan
James Ananich is a politician from the State of Michigan. He is a Democratic Party member of the Michigan State Senate representing the 27th District, which is located in Genesee County and includes Burton, Clio, Flint, Flint Township, Forest Township, Genesee Township, Mount Morris, Mount Morris Township, Richfield Township, Swartz Creek, Thetford Township and Vienna Township.
Contents
- Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich on roads plan
- Education and Early Career
- Political career
- The Flint Water Crisis
- References
Education and Early Career
Ananich attended and graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics and a secondary teaching certificate in social studies. He also received a master's degree in Public Administration-Educational Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint. From 1998 to 2001, he worked for U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint. He then became a teacher in the Carman-Ainsworth and Flint Community School Districts from 2005 to 2009 teaching social studies. He was later employed by Priority Children as an education coordinator until 2011.
Political career
Ananich served on the Flint City Council 2005-2009. He ran against Lee Gonzales for Michigan State Representative in the 2004 Democratic primary and lost. The next year, he was elected to Flint City Council and serve until 2009. In 2009, Ananich served as the Council's President. He then ran for State Representative in 2010 winning against Allan Pool 67% to 33%.
Ananich was unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 7, 2012 in his run for reelection, which he won on November 6 with nearly 74 percent of the votes. He introduced a bill on February 5, 2013 to correct a law regarding the abuse of vulnerable adults changing how prosecuting attorneys prove their case and was signed into law on June 4, 2013.
In 2013, with a vacancy due to John J. Gleason's resignation from the 27 District State Senate seat, he wins election to the position on May 7. He introduced on October 23 a drive-by shooting incidents law that increased penalties which was passed and signed into law July 16, 2014. His scrap metal bill was sign into law on December 31. Ananich faced no opposition in the Democratic primary election on August 5, 2014.
The Democratic State Senate caucus on November 6, 2014 selected Ananich to be the upcoming Senate Minority Leader.
The Flint Water Crisis
Shortly into his tenure as Senator, the Flint Water Crisis enfolded over the course of several months and drew national attention to the Flint area. On January 13, 2016, Ananich called for the state to refund the $2 million to the city; Ananich also requested further emergency funding from the state and a commitment to long-term funding to address the effects of the lead contamination. Senator Ananich also sharply criticized the role Emergency Managers played in worsening the crisis and that the law allowing the positions should be reviewed and repealed. “It’s been a failed project,” he said. “There’s absolutely no accountability with the government. They are trying to circumvent local democracy and say, ‘This one individual knows best.’” On January 20, 2016 Senator Ananich introduced Senate Resolution 0133 (2016) that would grant state lawmakers probing the Flint water crisis subpoena power over the Governor's office, which is immune to the state Freedom of Information Act.
On February 23, 2016, the Michigan State Legislature started a committee to investigate the crisis chaired by Representative Jim Stamas and named Ananich as co-vice-chair along with Representative Ed McBoom.