Rick Snyder named key members of his administration at a press conference at U-M’s Ford School of Public Policy. (Photo: Austin Thomason, U-M Photo Services.)
Michigan’s governor-elect, Rick Snyder, has strong ties to the University of Michigan. The Republican, voted in to his first elected office on November 2, holds three U-M degrees: a bachelor’s (1977), an MBA (1979) and a JD (1982).
As a venture capitalist he invested in a startup created by U-M researcher Vic Strecher, called HealthMedia. And Snyder returned to campus, at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, to name key members of his staff.
Besides Snyder, at least four U-M alumni were elected to offices they had not held before. All are Republicans.
- Rep-elect Dan Benishek (MI-1), BS 1974
- Rep-elect Justin Amash (MI-3), BA 2002 and JD 2005
- Rep-elect Jon Runyan, (NJ-3), studied and played football at U-M; went to the NFL in 1996
- Senator-elect Rob Portman (R-OH), JD 1984
Jim Townsend - 1997
This article may have only been focusing on federal and statewide offices but, FYI, I just won election to the Michigan House of Representatives (District 26 – Royal Oak and Madison Heights) as a Democrat. I know there are other UM alumni in the freshman class of lawmakers. Thought you’d like to know.
Go Blue,
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