Dominic Jacobetti

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Dominic Jacobetti

Dominic J. Jacobetti (July 20, 1920–November 29, 1994) was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He holds the record as the longest-serving member of the Michigan House of Representatives, serving from 1955 until his death in 1994, representing Michigan's 108th and 109th Districts.

1 Early life
2 Career as a Michigan State Representative
3 Death
4 Honors and awards
5 External links

[edit] Early life

Dominic was born to Italian immigrants, Nick and Josephine Jacobetti. He lived in Negaunee, Michigan and graduated from St. Paul's High School in 1938. His first job was a miner for the Athens Mining Company. He quickly promoted to the president of the local United Steel Workers Union. He married Marie Burnette in 1942 and had three children: Judith, Colin, and Dominic Jr. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 1954 and took office in January 1955.

[edit] Career as a Michigan State Representative

Jacobetti represented Michigan's 108th district from 1954 to 1992 and the 109th district from 1992 until his death in 1994. Both districts are located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He served on the Educational Institutions Committee, Tuberculosis Hospitals Committee, Conservation Committee, House Policy Committee, State Affairs Committee, Appropriations Committee, just to name a few. He was the Chairman of many of these comittees. He is renowned for his work towards improving the life of his constituents. He fought for improving education, preventing the dumping of nuclear waste in the Upper Peninsula, tax limitation, seatbelt laws, insurance reform, veterans' rights, and legalizing abortions. He also fought to make Michigan's Upper Peninsula the 51st state. He commissioned the building of Marquette, Michigan's Superior Dome. Jacobetti was almost never opposed in elections, in fact his only major opponent during his forty year tenure was Alva J. Menhennick, who only received about thirty-five percent of the popular vote.

[edit] Death

Jacobetti died suddenly at the age of 74 just weeks after being re-elected to his 21st term. He was succeeded by Michael Prusi. Now that there are term limits in the Michigan House of Representatives, no one can ever serve longer than Jacobetti.

[edit] Honors and awards

Jacobetti was affectionately nicknamed Pooga, King Jake, and Godfather of the U.P. In 1978 he was named one of the "Ten Outstanding State Legislators in the United States" ^{[citation needed]} because of his efforts to provide adequate staffing in governmental offices. He was named U.P. Person of The Year, ^{[citation needed]} received the Distinguished Citizens Award, ^{[citation needed]} the Honorary Doctors of Law degree from Northern Michigan University, ^{[citation needed]} and the Good Neighbor of the Year Award. ^{[citation needed]} The Jacobetti Veterans Hospital in Marquette, Michigan is named after him.