Andy Meisner is running for re-election as State Representative in Michigan’s 27th District. Meisner serves as Assistant Democratic Leader in the House, and is leading the fight to bring new jobs to Michigan and to ease legislative restrictions on stem cell research. Andy will continue to promote a strong Democratic message for the state.

What makes Andy an extraordinary, visionary leader?

Andy’s vision for Michigan embodies a core principle of the Democratic Party: strengthening communities. Meisner, a state representative running for re-election and Democratic Leader, has been a tireless champion for the vulnerable and disabled. For his work on mental health issues, Meisner was tapped by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Michigan Mental Health Commission, and subsequently won Legislator of the Year honors from the League of Conservation Voters and the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Meisner wants to use the Democratic Leader’s position in the Michigan House to lift the state’s high restrictions on stem cell research, including a ban on researching would-be thrown away embryos, so that Michigan scientists can begin exploring possible cures for spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, juvenile diabetes and other longstanding medical ailments. In 2004 Meisner proposed lifting the state’s restrictions, and when his proposal was rejected, Meisner organized a statewide coalition of patient groups and advocacy organizations to broaden public education on embryonic cell stem research. Gov. Granholm has since endorsed Meisner’s legislative proposals and Michigan newspaper editorials have written in support of them. In essence, Andy made his House seat a driver for grassroots organizing.

Andy also believes that public schools are “the natural focal point of the community,” where public policymakers have the opportunity to coordinate “a holistic community approach to education, health and safety.” Meisner wants to make Michigan public schools a strategic center, around which community partnerships form to detect educational and health problems early.

Meisner’s approach to public schools is much like his approach on preventing crime: treating the mentally ill. Meisner wants to implement pre-booking and post-booking jail diversions programs to correct the mental health conditions of those who interact with the criminal justice system precisely because of their mental health. Like his work for stem cell research and public schools, Meisner wants to create partnerships between “local law enforcement, the courts, social workers and the community” to stop crimes that are related to mental illness.

Background

State Representative Andy Meisner was born and raised in the district he currently represents, which includes the South Oakland County communities of Huntington Woods, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Oak Park, Berkley and Hazel Park.

As a college student, Andy was a Lyndon B. Johnson Fellow in the Washington office of Congressman Sandy Levin. After graduating, Andy returned to Capitol Hill to work for United States Congressman David Obey (D-WI) and returned to Congressman Levin (D-MI) as a policy analyst working in the areas of criminal justice, mental health, unemployment insurance and foreign affairs. Andy’s work with Congressman Levin led him to his next role as vice president of the national, non-profit Drug-Free Kids Campaign, or CADCA.

First elected to the Michigan Legislature in 2002, Andy has quickly become a force in Lansing, serving his caucus as Assistant Democratic Leader having run unopposed, and as Vice-Chair of the House Commerce Committee and Ethics, Oversight and Campaign Finance Committee, and serving as a member of the Tax Policy Committee. Propelled by his experience in the public, non-profit and private sectors, Andy is an aggressive and passionate advocate whose work has twice been profiled on CNN’s Lou Dobbs program.

Race Facts

Race Type: Democratic Protect
Primary Opponent: None
Primary Date: August 8, 2006
Primary Election Results: Won Primary
General Opponent: Will Sears
General Election Date: November 7, 2006
General Election Results:Won, 79 – 21 percent