Brian Calley
Encyclopedia
Brian Calley an American politician from the Republican Party is the 61st and current Lieutenant Governor
of the State of Michigan. He is afforded the courtesy title
of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life.
High School in 1995. Calley attended Michigan State University
, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1998. He then earned a MBA
from Grand Valley State University
in 2000, pursuing a career in banking. He and his wife Julie Calley have three children.
of Irwin Union Bank of Lansing.
In 2002, Calley was elected to the Ionia County
Board of Commissioners, where he served until his election to the lower house
of the state's Legislature
in 2006. During his tenure as a member of the Board of Commissioners, he served on the Mid-South Substance Abuse Council, Ionia County Economic Alliance Board of Directors, Local Emergency Planning Committee and Ionia County Personnel Finance Committee.
and the Republican nomination in the 87th District constituency of the House of Representatives. The primary was a seven-candidate race. He subsequently went on to win the general election of that same year. Calley became the minority vice chairman
of the Tax Policy Committee in addition to sitting on the Health Policy and Banking and Financial Services committees. In 2008,he was named the "Legislator of the Year" by the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Calley was unopposed in the 2008 Republican primary election. He faced Democratic candidate Greg Grieves, Libertarian candidate Joseph P. Gillotte and U.S. Taxpayers candidate Phillip Peter Adams in the 2008 general election, winning re-election with 64 percent of the vote.
to prohibit property tax
es on a home from increasing when the value decreases. He stated if the Legislature does not place the measure on the 2010 ballot, he will organize a statewide petition to do so by referendum.
informed a woman living in Calley’s district that an anonymous neighbor had lodged a complaint that she was operating an illegal daycare center in her home. The woman, who was not a licensed daycare provider, had been watching neighborhood children each morning before their school bus arrived and after their parents had left for work for no compensation as an act of kindness. The department informed to woman she could face a $1,000 fine or serve up to 93 days in jail if not licensed.
When Calley was informed of the incident, he introduced legislation to resolve the issue and differentiate between casual babysitting and operating a daycare facility. He called the department’s actions “a shocking case of government bureaucracy run amok." The incident gained national attention resulting in Calley's appearance on NBC’s
Today Show with the families involved. On September 29, Granholm instructed department Director Ismael Ahmed
to work with Calley and the Legislature to change the law and prevent future issues.
Calley’s legislation was signed into law on November 20.
in 1959 and the first sitting House member elected to the office since James Damman in 1974.
Before his nomination as lieutenant governor, Calley was the Republican nominee for the Michigan Senate
in the 33rd District after defeating Bingham Township
Treasurer Michael Trebesh in the primary election. His nomination was withdrawn when he was nominated lieutenant governor. On September 2, 2010, members of the Republican executive committees in Clinton
, Ionia, Isabella
and Montcalm
counties selected Judy Emmons, a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives, as the party's new Senate nominee.
in 2010 as the running mate of Rick Snyder. He was sworn into office on January 1, 2011 on the steps of the state Capitol
in Lansing
. Pursuant to the Michigan Constitution
, Calley will preside over the Michigan Senate
.
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...
of the State of Michigan. He is afforded the courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life.
Personal life
During his youth, Calley volunteered for the local Republican Party and later joined its executive committee after graduation from IoniaIonia, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
High School in 1995. Calley attended Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1998. He then earned a MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
in 2000, pursuing a career in banking. He and his wife Julie Calley have three children.
Early career
After graduation, Calley worked throughout the banking industry, spending time at Ionia County National Bank (currently Firstbank), and most recently serving as vice presidentVice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Irwin Union Bank of Lansing.
In 2002, Calley was elected to the Ionia County
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
Board of Commissioners, where he served until his election to the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the state's Legislature
Michigan Legislature
The Michigan Legislature is the legislative assembly of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral body consisting of the Senate, the upper house, and the House of Representatives, the lower house. Article IV of the state's Constitution, adopted in 1963, defines the role of the...
in 2006. During his tenure as a member of the Board of Commissioners, he served on the Mid-South Substance Abuse Council, Ionia County Economic Alliance Board of Directors, Local Emergency Planning Committee and Ionia County Personnel Finance Committee.
Michigan Legislature
In August 2006, Calley won the primary electionPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and the Republican nomination in the 87th District constituency of the House of Representatives. The primary was a seven-candidate race. He subsequently went on to win the general election of that same year. Calley became the minority vice chairman
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
of the Tax Policy Committee in addition to sitting on the Health Policy and Banking and Financial Services committees. In 2008,he was named the "Legislator of the Year" by the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Calley was unopposed in the 2008 Republican primary election. He faced Democratic candidate Greg Grieves, Libertarian candidate Joseph P. Gillotte and U.S. Taxpayers candidate Phillip Peter Adams in the 2008 general election, winning re-election with 64 percent of the vote.
Property tax reform
Calley introduced in 2009 HJR B that would change the Michigan ConstitutionMichigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
to prohibit property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es on a home from increasing when the value decreases. He stated if the Legislature does not place the measure on the 2010 ballot, he will organize a statewide petition to do so by referendum.
2009 Michigan ‘Illegal Daycare’ Controversy
On September 11, 2009, the Michigan Department of Human ServicesMichigan Department of Human Services
The Michigan Department of Human Services is the agency of state of Michigan, headquartered in Lansing, that provides public assistance, child and family welfare services...
informed a woman living in Calley’s district that an anonymous neighbor had lodged a complaint that she was operating an illegal daycare center in her home. The woman, who was not a licensed daycare provider, had been watching neighborhood children each morning before their school bus arrived and after their parents had left for work for no compensation as an act of kindness. The department informed to woman she could face a $1,000 fine or serve up to 93 days in jail if not licensed.
When Calley was informed of the incident, he introduced legislation to resolve the issue and differentiate between casual babysitting and operating a daycare facility. He called the department’s actions “a shocking case of government bureaucracy run amok." The incident gained national attention resulting in Calley's appearance on NBC’s
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Today Show with the families involved. On September 29, Granholm instructed department Director Ismael Ahmed
Ismael Ahmed
Ismael Ahmed was the director of the Michigan Department of Human Services. from September, 2007 - January 3, 2011. He was appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm in September 2007...
to work with Calley and the Legislature to change the law and prevent future issues.
Calley’s legislation was signed into law on November 20.
2010 Nominations
Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Snyder named Calley his running mate on August 26, 2010. The nomination was ratified August 28 at the Republican State Convention at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Upon winning election on November 2, 2010, he became Michigan’s youngest lieutenant governor since John SwainsonJohn Swainson
John Burley Swainson was a politician from the US state of Michigan, as well as the 42nd Governor of Michigan....
in 1959 and the first sitting House member elected to the office since James Damman in 1974.
Before his nomination as lieutenant governor, Calley was the Republican nominee for 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....
in the 33rd District after defeating Bingham Township
Bingham Township, Clinton County, Michigan
Bingham Township is a civil township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,776. The township is named for Kinsley S. Bingham, a U.S. Representative and U.S...
Treasurer Michael Trebesh in the primary election. His nomination was withdrawn when he was nominated lieutenant governor. On September 2, 2010, members of the Republican executive committees in Clinton
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
, Ionia, Isabella
Isabella County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 63,351 people, 22,425 households, and 13,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
and Montcalm
Montcalm County, Michigan
-Michigan State Highways:* M-46* M-57* M-66* M-82* M-91-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,266 people, 22,079 households, and 16,183 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 25,900 housing units at an average density...
counties selected Judy Emmons, a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives, as the party's new Senate nominee.
Lieutenant Governor
Calley was elected Lieutenant Governor of MichiganLieutenant 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 as the running mate of Rick Snyder. He was sworn into office on January 1, 2011 on the steps of the state Capitol
Michigan State Capitol
The Michigan State Capitol is the building housing the legislative and executive branches of the government of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the state capital of Lansing in Ingham County...
in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
. Pursuant to the Michigan Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
, Calley will preside over 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....
.