| Sander Levin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 12th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | William Brodhead |
| Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means | |
| In office March 4, 2010 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Charlie Rangel |
| Succeeded by | Dave Camp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 6, 1931 Detroit, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Vicki Levin (deceased) |
| Residence | Royal Oak, Michigan |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago, Columbia University, Harvard University |
| Occupation | attorney |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Signature | |
Sander Martin Levin, generally known as Sandy Levin, (born September 6, 1931) is the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 12th congressional district, serving since 1983, and the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
The district (numbered as the 17th until 1993) includes many of Detroit's northern and northeastern suburbs, such as Mount Clemens, Southfield, Clinton Township, Warren, Fraser, Sterling Heights, Eastpointe and St. Clair Shores. He is the older brother of U.S. Senator Carl Levin.
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Levin was born in Detroit to Bess Levinson and Saul R. Levin. He graduated from Central High School in Detroit, received a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1952, a Master's degree in international relations from Columbia University in 1954, and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1957.
After developing a private law practice, Levin served in the Michigan Senate from 1965 to 1970, and was Senate Minority Leader 1969–1970. He made unsuccessful campaigns for Governor of Michigan in 1970 and 1974, losing to Republican William Milliken. He was a Fellow of the Kennedy School of Politics at Harvard University in 1975. From 1977 through 1981 he was assistant administrator of the Agency for International Development.
In 1982, incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman William Brodhead decided to run for re-election, instead making an unsuccessful run for governor. Levin won the Democratic primary in Michigan's 17th congressional district with 49% of the vote,[1] which at that time included northwestern Detroit as well as parts of Macomb and Oakland counties. He won the general election with 67% of the vote.[2] He has won re-election with at least 56% of the vote since then, except 1992 and 1994. After the 1990 United States Census, he was drawn into Michigan's 12th congressional district and lost his share of Detroit. In 1992, he narrowly defeated businessman and Vietnam War veteran John Pappageorge 53%-46%.[3] In 1994, he defeated him again in rematch, in the mist of the Republican Revolution, 52%-47%.[4] In 1996, he defeated him in a third rematch 57%-41%.[5] In 1998, he won re-election against Republican nominee Leslie A. Touma, 56%-42%.[6] In 2000, businessman Bart Baron gained the endorsement of the United Auto Workers, but Levin managed to win re-election with 64% of the vote.[7] The 2000s redistricting added heavily Democratic Southfield and Mount Clemens to the district, and he has won re-election in every election with at least 68% of the vote since.[8]
After redistricting, Levin was drawn into the same district as fellow U.S. Congressman Gary Peters (D-MI).[9] However, Peters has decided to run in the newly redrawn Michigan's 14th congressional district.[10] In 2008, Obama won the 9th district with 59% of the vote, while he won statewide with 57%. The district picks up Berkley, Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Southfield Township, Clawson, and Bloomfield Township.[11]
Levin took over as chairman of the Ways and Means committee on March 4, 2010 when Charles B. Rangel of New York stepped aside in due to a number of ethics violations.[12] He served as chairman until January, 2011, and currently serves as the committee's ranking member.
His wife of 50 years, Vicki, died on September 4, 2008. They had four children, Jennifer, Andrew, Madeleine and Matthew, and nine grandchildren, Nathan, Samuel, Jacob, Saul, Seth, Benjamin, Leah, Molly and Elijah.
Levin comes from a family that has long been prominent in Michigan politics. His younger brother Carl Levin is currently the state's senior Senator. His uncle, Theodore, was a federal judge. His first cousin, Charles was a Michigan Supreme Court justice, after serving as a Michigan Court of Appeals judge. His first cousin, Joseph Levin, was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. His son, Andy, was the 2006 Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate in the 13th Senate District, losing in a tight race to John Pappageorge.[13]
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Brodhead |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 17th congressional district 1983–1993 |
District eliminated |
| Preceded by David Bonior |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 12th congressional district 1993–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Charles Rangel New York |
Chairman of House Ways and Means Committee 2010–2011 |
Succeeded by Dave Camp Michigan |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Marcy Kaptur D-Ohio |
United States Representatives by seniority 26th |
Succeeded by Ed Towns D-New York |
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