Alma Wheeler Smith

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Representative Smith has announced her candidacy for governor in 2010. According to her campaign site, "As governor, Alma's policies and budgets will support full access to health care for each resident, equal education access and opportunity from preschool to grad school, a safe and clean environment, vital urban centers, a healthy business sector, protection for civil rights and civil liberties and full inclusion for each citizen in Michigan's benefits and opportunities." [2]

On May 10, one day before the filing deadline for the primary, Smith announced that although she was “well on the path” to collecting enough signatures (15,000) to qualify, she had decided not to submit them. In a statement, she said that she shared a “concern of splitting the progressive vote and ending up with a candidate that does not represent core Democratic values.” “Democrats need to unify behind a candidate and I have come to believe that my continued candidacy would only serve to divide us further,” Smith said. [4]

Family

Smith is a member of a prominent Ann Arbor political family. Her father, Albert H. Wheeler, was mayor of Ann Arbor from 1975 to 1978, and the first African American to hold that position. Her sister, Nancy Francis, has served as a Washtenaw County probate judge since 1990. Her son, Conan, served as a Washtenaw County commissioner, and was elected Chairperson of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party in December 2008. Conan's former wife, Rebekah Warren, represented the 18th District in the Michigan Senate until January 1, 2021, a seat Smith previously held.

References

  1. "Committees". Housedems.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "About Alma". www.almaformichigan.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  3. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Wheelihan to Whipper". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  4. Bell, Dawson (2010-05-10). "Rep. Wheeler Smith abandons bid for governor". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
Alma Wheeler Smith
Member of the MichiganHouseofRepresentatives
from the 54th district
In office
January 1, 2005 December 31, 2010
Political offices
Preceded by Michigan Senate, 18th District
19952002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Michigan House of Representatives, 54th District
20052010
Succeeded by