Fred Durhal III

Fred Durhal III
Minority Vice-Chair, House Appropriations
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 5th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2015
Preceded by Fred Durhal, Jr.
Personal details
Born Detroit, Michigan
Political party Democratic
Parents Fred and Martha Durhal
Residence Detroit, Michigan
Alma mater Eastern Michigan University
Website Official website

Fred Durhal III is a Democratic politician from Michigan currently representing the 5th District—which encompasses Central Detroit, the lower West Side of Detroit and Southwest Detroit—in the Michigan House of Representatives after being elected in November 2014.[1] Durhal succeeds his father, Fred Durhal, Jr., in representing the 5th District.[2]

Early life and Career

Durhal was born in Detroit to his parents Fred and Martha Durhal. He is the second eldest of six children.[3] Durhal attended Detroit Public Schools, including Guyton Elementary, Spain Middle School, and graduating from Detroit School of Arts. He later attended Eastern Michigan University, where he studied political science and music education.[3]

Prior to his election, he served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Northwest Detroit as the director of a literacy program for young children. He has collaborated with Village Builders of Northwest Detroit and Motor City Blight Busters to help stabilize neighborhoods within Detroit. In 2011, Durhal joined other community leaders to oppose Michigan’s emergency financial manager law in Benton Harbor and across the state.[2][3] Durhal has also worked with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild homes in Detroit. In 2004, he traveled to Benton Harbor with Habitat for Humanity, where he helped with the rebuilding of over 50 homes in one weekend.[3]

Durhal has been a member of the Detroit Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and a former member of the Teamsters Local 377. He previously served on the board of the Dexter Elmhurst Community Center,[2] and is formerly the President of Wayne County Progress PAC.[3]

Political career

Speaking on the Floor of the Michigan House of Representatives. (2016)

Durhal was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, succeeding his father. Taking office in January, 2015, he quickly found himself a leader in the Democratic caucus. He was appointed to the powerful House Appropriations Committee, serving as minority vice-chairman of the subcommittee on general government.[4] House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel also appointed him Assistant Democratic Leader.[5]

Durhal continued the work of his father, reintroducing legislation that would prohibit employers from requiring applicants to disclose prior felony convictions on job applications, so called "ban the box" legislation.[6]

In 2016, Durhal passed his first bill HB 4187, which was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder on May 10th, 2016,[7] and became PA 111 of 2016.[8] This legislation established a misdemeanor for anyone who defaces, destroys, or dismantles any highway sign, traffic sign, structure, or railroad in the State.

After being re-elected to a second term in 2016,[9] Durhal was appointed by Speaker of the House Tom Leonard and House Democratic Leader Sam Singh to serve as the Minority Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Committee,[4] making him the ranking Democrat on the committee.[10] He was also elected by his Detroit colleagues to serve as the Secretary of the Detroit Caucus.

Election Results (2014)

Durhal was successful in winning the November 2014 General Election to be elected to his first term.[1]

State House - 5th District
(Wayne (southwest Detroit))
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred Durhal III 11,795 94.82
Republican Dorothy Patterson 645 5.18
Total votes 12,440 100.0

Election Results (2016)

Durhal was successfully re-elected to his second term by winning the November 2016 General Election.[11]

State House - 5th District
(Wayne (southwest Detroit))
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred Durhal III 17,827 92.52
Republican Dorothy Patterson 1,443 7.48
Total votes 19,270 100.0

Personal life

Durhal is a member of and worships at Unity Baptist Church in Detroit.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "2014 Live Michigan election results: State House Districts 1-110". MLive. November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rep. Fred Durhal III's Biography". Michigan House Democrats. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Fred Durhal". Friends for Fred Durhal. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  4. 1 2 http://house.mi.gov/MHRPublic/committee.aspx
  5. ↑ http://housedems.com/article/rep-fred-durhal-iii-appointed-assistant-democratic-leader
  6. ↑ http://legislature.mi.gov/(S(j53lr1ma2mmeaxywzyi25q1x))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2015-HB-4208&query=on
  7. ↑ http://housedems.com/article/statement-state-representative-fred-durhal-iii-d-detroit-signing-his-bill-public-act-111.aspx
  8. ↑ http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(wgk4udvzbpyr3j0zor22i2mi))/mileg.aspx?page=BillStatus&objectname=2015-HB-4187.aspx
  9. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/michigan-state-house-district-5.aspx
  10. ↑ http://housedems.com/article/house-dem-leader-singh-names-additional-leadership-roles.aspx
  11. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/live_2016_election_results_sta.html
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