SD35 Incumbent Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau)

by: matt

Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

Campaign Website

Biography:

Michelle A. McManus (R, Lake Leelanau) was elected to the Michigan State Senate in November of 2002.  Senator McManus represents the second largest geographical district, the 35th State Senate district, which includes: Benzie, Clare, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mecosta, Missaukee, Osceola, Roscommon, and Wexford counties in lower northwest Michigan.

The Senator serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and chairs the Appropriation Subcommittees for the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality, and serves as Vice-Chair for the General Government and History, Arts, and Libraries subcommittees.  She also sits on the Senate Finance and Senate Commerce and Labor Committees.

In 2003, she spearheaded the fight against partial birth abortions in Michigan.  As the sponsor of Senate Bill 395, Senator McManus began the struggle to pass the Legal Birth Definition Act which sought to define the moment at which a person is considered “born” and therefore eligible for the full protection of the law.  Through this definition, partial birth abortions would be banned except in rare cases where the physical health or life of the mother is threatened by delivery.  After the bill was vetoed by Governor Granholm, the Senator joined with Right to Life Michigan, and through a citizen imitative resoundingly overturned the Governor’s veto with more than half a million signatures.

Under a bill sponsored by the Senator in 2004, hazing in Michigan was finally made illegal.  The anti-hazing laws not only criminalize hazing but help ensure that the offenders are brought to justice.

Senator McManus is also Co-Chair of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus which is dedicated to promoting the outdoors through education and conservation.  She organized the printing of the first ever Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Wild Game Cookbook, the sales of which are being donated to the Michigan Sportsmen Foundation Against Hunger.

Before taking office, Senator McManus previously served as the Director of Governor Engler’s Northern Office and as a three term State Representative for the 104th District. Senator McManus and her husband Keith Nelson live in Lake Leelanau with their two daughters.  She attended Traverse City Public Schools and earned her B.S. in political science from Central Michigan University.  She is an avid sportsman who enjoys a wide variety of outdoor activities and is an active member in her community.
(Republican Caucus)

SD35 District Profile

by: matt

Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

Senate elections panel chairwoman scrutinized for junket (or was it?)

by: Eric B.

Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 15:54:35 PM EST

In June, while the state limped towards budget fiasco after budget fiasco, a group of lawmakers knocked off for a couple of days fishing in Lake Michigan.  One of the legislators responsible for organizing the junket?  The fox guarding the henhouse.

The Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus' third annual Great Lakes Charter Boat Fishing Outing in Manistee on June 24-25 was hosted by state Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, and state Rep. David Palsrok, R-Manistee.

That would be McManus, off to the right, holding up a fish she caught during the trip.  She has photos on display on her Web site michellemcmanus.org, including one of her daughter who accompanied the good senator on the fishing trip.

I don't know why this story is rearing its head at this time.  I mean, this all happened months ago, and made it into the news cycle then.  But, it's good to keep this kind of thing floating near the surface, because the people who threw the trip dissented from the good senator's opinion that it wasn't a lobbying gig.  And, the senator, who didn't think the trip constituted a junket because they didn't go to Hawaii, is in charge of the committee that might propose rules to clamp down on this kind of activity.

Rich notes one of the real issues here -- that Sen. Junket-NoJunket booted Mark Schauer off the campaign oversight committee because she said he'd missed some meetings.  Of course, the booting took place right after Schauer had the gall to take issue with McManus' partisanship regarding the state's presidential fiasco (Sen. Junket-NoJunket accused Democrats of wanting an exclusive nomination process, which of course is a privilege of political parties).

But, beyond what appears to be blatantly partisan motivations, there are bigger, more important issues at work here ... namely propriety in the public sphere. 

We're not in Cadillac anymore, Toto!

by: LiberalLucy

Thu May 17, 2007 at 08:17:05 AM EDT

Just yesterday, while the Senate Republicans were plundering Michigan's K-12 Educational Funding, otherwise known as Senate Bills 436 and 437, Sen. Michelle McManus (R- Lake Leelanau) let this beauty drop -

As I watch this body, it reminds me of a very familiar movie that I watched while I was a child. It was called "The Wizard of Oz." I'm sure you've heard of it. I'm sure you're familiar with it. As I watch everything that's been happening the last couple of months, I can't stop but to see some very familiar characters, characters in this room, characters in the executive branch, and certainly some characters in the House.

Now here in the Senate, we have the brains to pass a very reasonable package of spending reductions to balance this budget this particular year, not once but twice.

In the House they haven't always seen the right path to make the best decisions, but certainly their hearts are in the right place because they've wanted to vote for different particular items that the Governor has put forth.

Of course, then, there is the Governor. I won't characterize what particular character I think she could portray in "The Wizard of Oz," but I would only say that I would hope that she could find some courage in a decent amount of time to make the very tough decisions which need to be made for this state...

*emphasis added*

Did I mention that The Wicked Witch of the North McManus is the Republican Assistant Majority Leader?

Good people of the 35th Senate District, you have our sympathies.

McManus/Benzie schoolkids controversy hits the MSM

by: Hazen Pingree

Fri May 11, 2007 at 12:14:25 PM EDT

Officials and parents at a school in Benzie County found what they thought was a creative way to send their political message to Lansing: display it on the backs of fourth-graders.

Most of the nearly 30 fourth-graders on a recent field trip to the state capital marched into the House gallery wearing T-shirts that read "-$125," a statement opposing the proposed cuts in per-student state aid to school districts.

The incident continues to raise eyebrows in the students' home district, as well as in Lansing.

-snip-

The students' gesture garnered numerous entries on the popular political blog site Michiganliberal.com. (emphasis added)

But state Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, said the students were used as political tools. She heard about the protest messages when Jennifer Smeltzer, another Crystal Lake parent on the trip, called her office to complain before the group arrived in Lansing.

"She told me that young kids were being used to promote a political agenda,” McManus said. (emphasis added)

Oh, hell's bells! Get off it already, Senator!

SD35 Sen. McManus responds

by: Hazen Pingree

Wed May 09, 2007 at 20:43:31 PM EDT

Friends,

I am writing today to clear up some apparent misconceptions about an incident that took place last week when students from Crystal Lake Elementary in Benzonia visited the Capitol.

It came to my attention from a concerned parent that the fourth graders on the trip were being used as props in a political demonstration without the knowledge or consent of their parents. As the mother of a nine-year-old, I was appalled. Regardless of your political affiliation, using children to promote your political agenda is simply unacceptable.

I have heard it stated that I contacted the Capitol Tour Desk to ask that these students be banned from future visits to the Capitol. Not only is this accusation completely false, but it is utterly ridiculous as well. The Capitol is a public building that belongs to the people of Michigan. No school has ever been banned from visiting here.

As I see it, the children have been victimized enough, and I would not punish them further for the inappropriate actions of some of their adult chaperones. In fact, I hope these children will return to the Capitol in the near future so they can enjoy this beautiful and historic building without being used as pawns by well-meaning, but misdirected, adults.

As a legislator, it is my job to listen to people and to hear their complaints. While I understand the frustrations many are feeling with the budget process, actions like these are not a constructive way to address our state's problems. The line of communication between schools and elected officials needs to remain open and productive.

I hope this message serves to clear up any misconceptions about Thursday's events. As you know, my door is always open, and I welcome your feedback and questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding this or any issue related to state government, and please feel free to share this message with anyone you encounter with questions about Thursday's incident.

Sincerely,
Michelle A. McManus
State Senator
35th District

(emphasis added)

It came to my attention from a concerned parent that the fourth graders on the trip were being used as props in a political demonstration without the knowledge or consent of their parents. As the mother of a nine-year-old, I was appalled. Regardless of your political affiliation, using children to promote your political agenda is simply unacceptable. (emphasis added)

McManus vs. Michigan's children: the cost of ideology

by: seaborn

Mon May 07, 2007 at 19:48:51 PM EDT

On the bus ride down, the parents on the trip - some Republicans, some Democrats and some independants - talked with the kids about Michigan's budget crisis, including the $125 per pupil cut that will be made if the Republicans don't cover their expenses in the next 24 days.  These cuts would cost the students of the Benzie County Central School District, which includes Crystal Lake Elementary, $246,285.

In response, the kids took part in a silent protest:

This was way, way too much for Michelle McManus.  In response, she allegedly called the Capitol Tour service and tried to have these 4th graders banned from the Capitol building.  That's right: a second term state senator responded to a silent protest not aimed at her but at the budget situation in general by trying to ban a group of 4th graders from ever visiting the site of their state government again!

What was it that Shakespeare said?  That's right: "Me thinks the lady doth protest too much."

While McManus has tried to lay the blame for her budgetary irresponsibility at the governor's feet (even while bragging about blowing an additional $600-700 million hole in the state's budget), her little incident on Thursday shows that not even Michelle McManus believes Michelle McManus's talking points. 

She shouldn't.

Better know an obstructionist: Sen. Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau)

by: Hazen Pingree

Sun May 06, 2007 at 09:19:37 AM EDT

SD35 Former Candidate Antoinette Schippers (D-Cadillac)

by: matt

Wed May 24, 2006 at 22:11:00 PM EDT

Campaign website.

Biography:

My name is Antoinette Schippers, but everyone calls me Tiyi, (pronounced like the letters T.I.). I live in Cadillac, MI and am running for state senate in the 35th District. I have been a teacher for 25 yeras and have taught everything from kindergarten to 8th grade, including art, drama and music. I have also been an Arts Director and principal of a charter school.

I am leader of Cadillac United, a diversity anti-hate group formed after the City of Cadillac awarded a certificate of appreciation to the National Socialist Movement, otherwise known as the American Nazi Party. You can read about it and my efforts in Cadillac in the Anti Defamation League 2005 Annual Report.

I am married to David Bunce, a teacher and musician, and a former Oprah Winfrey Husband of the Year candidate. We have four kids, Rachael Davis, a singer/songwriter, Zak Bunce a bike mechanic and upright bass player in the bluegrass band Detour. Zak has a partner Jess Taylor, a lovely daughter-in-love who is a massage therapist and starting up a whole foods co-op in the area, together they have Layla Rose the two-year-old apple of my eye. Arra Bunce-Schippers lives in Traverse City, MI and is studying health sciences and traditional Chinese medicine. Mike Robinson, Arra's partner, is studying culinary arts at Northwestern Michigan College. Ezra just graduated from Cadillac High School and is an avid fisherman with interests in wildlife biology and forestry.

I am running for state senate because I believe that it's time to bring up north values downstate for a change. I will bring creative new thinking to all the important issues that affect our lives here in northern Michigan. (source: campaign website)