| Gary McDowell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 107th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2005 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1952 Rudyard, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Carrie McDowell |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Website | Michigan State Representative Gary McDowell |
Gary McDowell (born 1952) represented the 107th District in the Michigan State House of Representatives from January 2005 until January 2011, and was the 2010 Democratic nominee for Michigan's 1st congressional district.
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McDowell was born on a farm in Rudyard, Michigan as the oldest of ten children in 1952. He graduated from Rudyard High School in 1970 and attended Lake Superior State University.[1]
McDowell was elected to the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners in 1981. He served there until 2002 and became the chairman in 1998. He also served on the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation Board from 1987 until 2004.
McDowell was first elected in 2004 to represent the 107th District, which includes Chippewa County, Mackinac County, Emmet County, and part of Cheboygan County. In May 2010, he sponsored a bill to designate Michigan's official state nickname the "Great Lakes State."[2][3]
McDowell faced Republican nominee Dan Benishek, Independent Glenn Wilson, Libertarian Keith Shelton, Green Ellis Boal, and UST Patrick Lambert in the general election. Democratic incumbent Bart Stupak had announced his retirement, leaving this an open seat.[4] McDowell was endorsed by Michigan's largest newspaper, the Detroit Free Press.[5] However, Benishek won the election with 52% of the vote to 41% for McDowell.
On September 15, 2011, McDowell announced his intent to run against Republican incumbent Dan Benishek in the 2012 election cycle.[6]
McDowell lives in Rudyard with his wife Carrie. They have three daughters, Alivia, Emily, and Rochelle. He is a member of the Rudyard First United Presbyterian Church.