John Gleason

Infobox_State_Senator


imagesize = 150px
name= John Gleason


width=
state_senate=Michigan
state=Michigan
district=27th
term_start=2007
term_end=
preceded=
succeeded=Incumbent
state_house2=Michigan
state2=Michigan
district2=48th
term_start2=2003
term_end2=2006
preceded2=
succeeded2=Richard Hammel
date of birth= Birth date and age|1954|08|26|
place of birth=Flushing, Michigan
date of death=
place of death=
spouse= Karen
profession=millwright
religion=Roman Catholic
party=Democratic

John Gleason (b. August 26, 1954 cite book
coauthors = Michigan Legislative Service Bureau
title = Michigan Manual 2005-2006
publisher = Legislative Council, State of Michigan
date = 2006
location = Lansing, MI
pages = 198
url = http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/manual/2005-2006/2005-MM-0198-0198-Gleason.pdf
ISBN = 1-878210-06-8
accessdate = 2007-06-29 ] ) is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 27th District since 2007. His district includes Western Genesee County with Fenton Flint, Flushing, Linden, Montrose, Swartz Creek, and the townships of Argentine, Clayton, Gaines, Genesee, and Mundy.cite web
coauthors = Michigan Senate Democrats
title = Michigan Senate Democrats: About John Gleason
date = 2007
url = http://www.senate.mi.gov/gleason/about.htm
accessdate = 2007-06-29 ]

Background

John has lived in Genesee County for his entire life and is raising a family in Flushing with his wife, Karen. He has two children, a daughter, Clancy Rose, and a son, Eamonn.

Senator Gleason is a graduate of Flushing High School, class of 1972. After high school, he graduated from Mott Community College and attended Northern Michigan University.

Professionally, Gleason worked as a skilled trade millwright for 30 years and is a member of Millwright's Local 1102 and UAW Local 598.

Political career

Prior to entering state politics, Senator Gleason served as a Genesee County Commissioner from 1995-2002. During his years of local government service, he served on all of the major committees and played an instrumental role in the enhancement of Genesee County's parks and roads. Gleason also organized the annual Genesee County Health Fair—an event that included free health screening for local residents. As Chairperson of the Genesee County Economic Development Committee, he was active in working with local businesses and organized labor to keep Genesee County’s economy growing.

From 2003-2006, Gleason served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 48th Representative District. In November 2006, he was elected to the Michigan Senate from the 27th Senate District.

He has been chosen to serve on several influential committees, and his assignments include acting as the ranking Democrat on the Local, Urban, and State Affairs Committee and the Agriculture Committee. In addition to the Democratic vice-chair assignments, Gleason also serves on the Education, Health Policy, and Transportation panels.

Honors & awards

In September 2001, Senator Gleason received a kidney transplant and is a spokesperson for promoting organ donations. He was presented the Carroll Clark Award for advocating diversification among women and minorities at the county level. In 2001, Gleason was nominated by the Flint Area Building Trades Council for the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for his tenacity to include women and minorities for positions on county boards.

He is a proud recipient of the 2002 Knights of Columbus Citizen of the Year Award and has been honored by the AFL-CIO as Local Legislator of the Year for his work as a Genesee County Commissioner. He has also received the Friends of Children Award in 2003 and the Michigan Concrete Pavers’ Legislator of the Year Award in 2005. Senator Gleason is the founder of Spreading Organ Donation Awareness (SODA) in Flint, and has received the National Kidney Foundation’s “Champion of Hope” Award for organ donation in 2006.

Memberships

Senator Gleason is also a member of Sigma Alpha Nu F.O.P., the Lions Club, the Moose Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Masonic Lodge 174, and is an avid hunter and sportsman.

Electoral history

*2006 Election for the Michigan State Senate - 27th District

References

External links

* [http://senate.michigan.gov/gleason/ Michigan Senate - John Gleason] official government website
** [http://www.senate.mi.gov/gleason/media.php Floor Statements] video clips
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=38368 Project Vote Smart - Senator John Gleason (MI)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - John Gleason
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200622&c=430473 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200422&c=403359 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200222&c=3824 2002] campaign contributions
* [http://www.senate.mi.gov/dem/ Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus]
* [http://www.michiganliberal.com/tag.do?tag=SD27 Michigan Liberal - SD27]