Saginaw's new state representative, Vanessa Guerra, named to leadership post
- Jan 8, 2015
- 2 min read
LANSING, MI — The newly-elected state representative for the city of Saginaw and surrounding communities has been appointed to a leadership position by House Democratic Leader-elect Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills.
Vanessa Guerra, D-Bridgeport Township, will serve under Greimel's leadership during the Michigan Legislature's 2015-16 session as one of two assistant leaders.
Greimel announced Guerra's appointment, alongside several other leadership appointments, in a press release issued Wednesday, Jan. 7.
"This outstanding Democratic leadership team will help shape public policy in a positive way for Michigan's families, kids and seniors," Greimel said. "I'm proud to have a leadership team from all different backgrounds and I look forward to working with them to better Michigan."
Guerra was elected by voters of Michigan's 95th District in the November 2014 election.
She defeated former Saginaw City Councilman Norman Braddock in the August Democratic primary and went on to defeat Republican Jordan Haskins in the November general election, taking nearly 76 percent of the vote.
Related: Democrat Vanessa Guerra sworn in as Saginaw's next state representative
The 95th District consists of the cities of Saginaw and Zilwaukee and the townships of Kochville, Zilwaukee, Carrollton, Buena Vista, Bridgeport, Spaulding and James.
She replaces State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, D-Saginaw, who chose not to run for reelection to the Michigan House of Representatives, instead making an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the Michigan Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Roger Kahn.
Oakes lost the November general election to State Rep. Ken Horn, a Frankenmuth Republican.
In her new role, Guerra will work alongside State Rep. Fred Durhall III, D-Detroit, who Greimel named the other assistant leader for the 2015-16 session.
Other leadership appointments announced Wednesday were:
Whip: State Rep. Robert Kosowski (D-Westland)
Caucus Chair: State Rep. David E. Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti)
Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair: State Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit)
Minority Vice Chair of Appropriations: State Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids)
Policy Chair: State Rep. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids)
Greimel said the above team will join existing members of the House Democrats' leadership team including Democratic Floor Leader Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, and Detroit Caucus Chairman Brian Banks, D-Detroit.
Mark Tower covers local government for MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact him at 989-284-4807, by email at mtower@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.
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