John Gleason

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John Gleason
John Gleason
Member of the Michigan State Senate
from the 27th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
2007
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 48th district
In office
2003 – 2006
Succeeded by Richard Hammel
Born August 26, 1954 (1954-08-26) (age 53)
Flushing, Michigan
Political party Democratic
Spouse Karen
Profession millwright
Religion Roman Catholic

John Gleason (b. August 26, 1954 [1]) is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 27th District since 2007. His district includes Western Genesee County with Fenton Flint, Flushing, Linden, Montrose, Swartz Creek, and the townships of Argentine, Clayton, Gaines, Genesee, and Mundy.[2]

Contents

[edit] Background

John has lived in Genesee County for his entire life and is raising a family in Flushing with his wife, Karen. He has two children, a daughter, Clancy Rose, and a son, Eamonn.

Senator Gleason is a graduate of Flushing High School, class of 1972. After high school, he graduated from Mott Community College and attended Northern Michigan University.

Professionally, Gleason worked as a skilled trade millwright for 30 years and is a member of Millwright's Local 1102 and UAW Local 598.

[edit] Political career

Prior to entering state politics, Senator Gleason served as a Genesee County Commissioner from 1995-2002. During his years of local government service, he served on all of the major committees and played an instrumental role in the enhancement of Genesee County's parks and roads. Gleason also organized the annual Genesee County Health Fair—an event that included free health screening for local residents. As Chairperson of the Genesee County Economic Development Committee, he was active in working with local businesses and organized labor to keep Genesee County’s economy growing.

From 2003-2006, Gleason served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 48th Representative District. In November 2006, he was elected to the Michigan Senate from the 27th Senate District.

He has been chosen to serve on several influential committees, and his assignments include acting as the ranking Democrat on the Local, Urban, and State Affairs Committee and the Agriculture Committee. In addition to the Democratic vice-chair assignments, Gleason also serves on the Education, Health Policy, and Transportation panels.

[edit] Honors & awards

In September of 2001, Senator Gleason received a kidney transplant and is a spokesperson for promoting organ donations. He was presented the Carroll Clark Award for advocating diversification among women and minorities at the county level. In 2001, Gleason was nominated by the Flint Area Building Trades Council for the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for his tenacity to include women and minorities for positions on county boards.

He is a proud recipient of the 2002 Knights of Columbus Citizen of the Year Award and has been honored by the AFL-CIO as Local Legislator of the Year for his work as a Genesee County Commissioner. He has also received the Friends of Children Award in 2003 and the Michigan Concrete Pavers’ Legislator of the Year Award in 2005. Senator Gleason is the founder of Spreading Organ Donation Awareness (SODA) in Flint, and has received the National Kidney Foundation’s “Champion of Hope” Award for organ donation in 2006.

[edit] Memberships

Senator Gleason is also a member of Sigma Alpha Nu F.O.P., the Lions Club, the Moose Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Masonic Lodge 174, and is an avid hunter and sportsman.

[edit] Electoral history

  • 2006 Election for the Michigan State Senate - 27th District
Name Percent
John Gleason (D)   75.8%
John Kopinski (R)   24.2%

[edit] References

  1. ^ (2006) Michigan Manual 2005-2006. Lansing, MI: Legislative Council, State of Michigan, 198. Retrieved on 2007-06-29. 
  2. ^ Michigan Senate Democrats: About John Gleason (2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-29.

[edit] External links