Chris Kolb

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Chris Kolb is a politician from Ann Arbor, Michigan and a former member of the Michigan State House of Representatives.

A Democrat, Kolb served as the State Representative for Michigan's 53rd district from January 2001 to January 2007. He was first elected in November 2000, and term limits prevented him from seeking a fourth two-year term in 2006.

Prior to his tenure in the House, Kolb served eight years on the Ann Arbor City Council and was Mayor Pro-tem from 1994 through 2000. Kolb ran for mayor of Ann Arbor as the Democratic nominee in 1996 and 1998, accusing incumbent Republican mayor Ingrid Sheldon of not doing enough in the areas of environmental policy, affordable housing, and downtown vitality, but he lost both races by narrow margins. Kolb also previously served as a Legislative Aide to State Representative John P. Hansen.

In the Michigan House, Kolb supported environmental legislation such as the Open Space Preservation Act, signed into law by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

He also supported low tuition at state universities and attempted to add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics covered under the state’s Ethnic Intimidation Act.

On his election in 2000, Kolb became the first ever openly gay member of the Michigan Legislature. His election campaigns have frequently won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

[edit] Political future

As of early 2007, Kolb's political future is unclear. Term limits prevent him from seeking a return to the State House; Michigan's term limits amendment imposes a lifetime maximum of three two-year terms as a state representative. Since term limits were introduced, many legislators have moved from the House to the Senate, but Kolb's likely senate district (the 18th District, currently served by Sen. Liz Brater) won't become vacant until 2010. He may therefore decide instead to return to Ann Arbor city government or to Washtenaw County government or, perhaps, to retire from public service entirely.

[edit] References

Official site
Campaign site
Gay marriage ban fails in state House (Lansing State Journal, March 10, 2004): cites Kolb as "the only openly gay lawmaker in the Legislature".