Brenda L. Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Brenda L. Lawrence is the current mayor
of Southfield, Michigan
and was the Democratic nominee for Michigan lieutenant governor
in 2010.
in public administration from Central Michigan University
.
, serving as president, vice president, and secretary. In 1997, she was elected to serve on Southfield's City Council and, in 1999, she was elected council president.
In 2001, she defeated longtime Southfield Mayor Donald Fracassi becoming the city's first African-American and first female mayor. She was re-elected in 2005 without opposition. As mayor, she was invited by the U.S. House
Oversight Committee in 2008 to represent United States mayors in testimony about the mortgage crisis and its affect on American communities. She returned to Washington
later that year to lobby Congress
for a bridge loan for the American auto industry.
Lawrence was a Michigan
delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention
. As a superdelegate
at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
, she endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama
for president
in June 2008.
In May 2008, Lawrence announced her candidacy for Oakland County Executive. She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination to unseat the Republican
incumbent, L. Brooks Patterson
and received 42 percent of the vote in the November general election.
She successfully sought a third term as mayor in 2009 defeating former Councilwoman Sylvia Jordan with nearly 80 percent of the vote.
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero named Lawrence as his running mate in his bid for Michigan governor. She was formally nominated as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in August 2010.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
and was the Democratic nominee for Michigan lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
in 2010.
Early life
Lawrence grew up in Detroit's northeast side and was raised by her grandparents; her mother died when she was three years old. She graduated from Detroit's Pershing High School, and earned her bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in public administration from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
.
Political career
In the early 1990s, as an active member of the Parent Teacher's Association at her children's school, she sought and earned a seat on the Southfield Public Schools Board of EducationBoard of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
, serving as president, vice president, and secretary. In 1997, she was elected to serve on Southfield's City Council and, in 1999, she was elected council president.
In 2001, she defeated longtime Southfield Mayor Donald Fracassi becoming the city's first African-American and first female mayor. She was re-elected in 2005 without opposition. As mayor, she was invited by the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Oversight Committee in 2008 to represent United States mayors in testimony about the mortgage crisis and its affect on American communities. She returned to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
later that year to lobby Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for a bridge loan for the American auto industry.
Lawrence was a 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"....
delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
The 2004 Democratic National Convention convened from July 26 to July 29, 2004 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, and nominated John Kerry and John Edwards as the official candidates of the Democratic Party for President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, in the 2004...
. As a superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
, she endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in June 2008.
In May 2008, Lawrence announced her candidacy for Oakland County Executive. She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination to unseat the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, L. Brooks Patterson
L. Brooks Patterson
Lewis Brooks Patterson is serving his fifth term as County Executive of Oakland County, Michigan. Patterson has been a major figure in Michigan politics for more than three decades, noted for his populist conservatism.- Education :...
and received 42 percent of the vote in the November general election.
She successfully sought a third term as mayor in 2009 defeating former Councilwoman Sylvia Jordan with nearly 80 percent of the vote.
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero named Lawrence as his running mate in his bid for Michigan governor. She was formally nominated as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor at the Michigan Democratic Party convention in August 2010.
Personal life
Lawrence has been married to McArthur Lawrence for over 30 years. The couple has two children and a grandchild Asya.Electoral history
- 2009 Election for Mayor of Southfield
Name Percent Brenda L. Lawrence 77.6% Sylvia Jordan 22.3%
- 2008 Election for Oakland County Executive
Name Percent L. Brooks Patterson 58.1% Brenda L. Lawrence 41.6%
- 2005 Election for Mayor of Southfield
Name Percent Brenda L. Lawrence 100%
- 2001 Election for Mayor of Southfield
Name Percent Brenda L. Lawrence 52.6% Donald Fracassi 47.4%