Don Koivisto

Don Koivisto
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 38th district
In office 1990–2002
Preceded by	Joseph Mack
Succeeded by	Mike Prusi
Personal details
Born	August 18, 1949 (1949-08-18) (age 62) Gogebic County, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Pam Koivisto
Religion	Lutheran

Donald W. Koivisto (born August 18, 1949) is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives 1980 to 1986 and the Michigan Senate from 1990 until 2002. From 2007 to 2010 he served as the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Early life

Koivisto was born in Gogebic County, Michigan in 1949. He grew up on a farm near Ironwood, Michigan. He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1967, and earned a BS in Political Science from Central Michigan University in 1971. He worked as a corrections officer in Ontonagon County, a farmer and teacher.

Political career

In 1980, Koivisto was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan State House of Representatives to succeed Rep. Russel Hellman, who retired. He represented the 110th District, which was located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and included Iron, Gogebic, Houghton, Ontonagon, Keweenaw, and Baraga Counties. He served as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee from 1984 to 1986.

In 1986, he retired from the House of Representatives and became a legislative staffer for the Joint Administrative Rules Committee. In 1990, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate, representing the 38th District, which includes all of the Counties in the Upper Peninsula except Mackinac County. He served on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. Koivisto was the only Senator to vote against ousting Sen. David Jaye from the Senate, other than Jaye himself. He served on the Appropriations, Higher Education, Capital Outlay, Agriculture, and Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, as well as Gaming and Casino Oversight Committees. He served in the Senate until 2002. He was succeeded by Mike Prusi.

Post-legislative career

After leaving the Senate, Koivisto became a lobbyist for the iron mining industry. In August 2007, The Michigan Commission of Agriculture appointed Koivisto Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, which is a state cabinet level position similar to the U.S. He left this position in December 2010. Agriculture Secretary.^[1]

Awards and recognitions

In 1984, Koivisto won the Michigan Agricultural Conference Recognition Award for his work to help farmers while in the State House. He received the Michigan Farm Bureau's AgriPac endorsement as a "friend of agriculture" several times during his legislative career.

Personal life

Koivisto lives in Ellsworth, Michigan and owns a farm that produces corn, soybeans, and hay. He is married to his wife Pam and they have four children. They belong to the Bethany Lutheran Church in Charlevoix. He enjoys fishing and hunting in his spare time.

References

1. ^ "Agriculture Commission Names Donald Koivisto As New State Agriculture Director" MDA Press Release, August 13, 2007

External links

• Biographical sketch, Michigan Manual, 1999-2000, p. 159
• Koivisto Appointed Agriculture Director

Preceded by Joseph Mack (D)

State Senator for the 38th State Senate District of Michigan Don Koivisto (D) 1990–2002

Succeeded by Mike Prusi (D)

Persondata
Name	Koivisto, Don
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 18, 1949
Place of birth	Gogebic County, Michigan
Date of death
Place of death