Alma Wheeler Smith
Encyclopedia
Alma Wheeler Smith is a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. She was most recently a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 54th District, which includes the city of Ypsilanti
, Augusta Township, Salem Township
, Superior Township
, and Ypsilanti Township
in Washtenaw County
, from 2005 to 2010. A Democrat
, she sat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, served two terms in the Michigan Senate
from 1995 to 2002, and sought her party's nomination for Governor of Michigan
in 2010.
representing Ann Arbor in the 18th District for eight years before term limits ended her tenure in that body.
She served in the Michigan House from January 1, 2005 until December 31, 2010, having been unable to retain her House seat in 2010 due to term limits.
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.
, 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, serves as a Washtenaw County commissioner, and was elected Chairperson of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party in December 2008. Conan's wife, Rebekah Warren
, currently represents the 18th District in the Michigan Senate
, a seat Smith previously held.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. She was most recently a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 54th District, which includes the city of Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
, Augusta Township, Salem Township
Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Salem Township is a general law township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located northeast of Ann Arbor. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,562.The unincorporated community of Salem is located within the township....
, Superior Township
Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Superior Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,740 at the 2000 census....
, and Ypsilanti Township
Ypsilanti Township, Michigan
Ypsilanti Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 49,182...
in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
, from 2005 to 2010. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she sat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, served two terms in the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from 1995 to 2002, and sought her party's nomination for Governor of Michigan
Michigan gubernatorial election, 2010
The Michigan gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, was prohibited by the state's Constitution from seeking a third term. This resulted in a large pool of candidates which was whittled down, when the May 11 filing deadline passed, to two...
in 2010.
Early career
Early in her career, Alma worked as a cable commissioner, school board trustee, school board president, and country commissioner. She served as a State SenatorMichigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
representing Ann Arbor in the 18th District for eight years before term limits ended her tenure in that body.
State Representative
In the Michigan House of Representatives, Smith has introduced bills on a wide range of topics.She served in the Michigan House from January 1, 2005 until December 31, 2010, having been unable to retain her House seat in 2010 due to term limits.
Gubernatorial candidate
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."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.
Family
Smith is a member of a prominent Ann Arbor political family. Her father, Albert H. WheelerAlbert H. Wheeler
Albert H. Wheeler was an American life-sciences professor and politician in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He became the city's first African-American mayor, serving in the office from 1975 to 1978.-Early career:...
, was mayor of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
from 1975 to 1978, and the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to hold that position. Her sister, Nancy Francis, has served as a Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
probate judge since 1990. Her son, Conan, serves as a Washtenaw County commissioner, and was elected Chairperson of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party in December 2008. Conan's wife, Rebekah Warren
Rebekah Warren
Rebekah Lynn Warren is an American Democratic politician from Ann Arbor, Michigan, representing the 18th District of the Michigan Senate since January 1, 2011. She was elected to this position on November 2, 2010, beating Republican opponent John Hochstetler, 65.5% to 34.5%...
, currently represents the 18th District in the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
, a seat Smith previously held.