Dale E. Kildee
Encyclopedia
Dale Edward Kildee is the U.S. Representative
for Michigan's 5th congressional district
, serving since 1977. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. The district includes Flint
, Saginaw and Bay City
. In July 2011, Kildee announced he will retire after his current term is up.
on September 16, 1929 to Timothy and Norma Kildee. He was the fourth of five children; his brother Jack was born 14 months later. At the time of his birth, his family resided on New York Avenue on Flint's eastside
. The family later moved to a house on Jane Avenue. In his senior year of high school, he won the American Legion
Medal of Citizenship. In 1947, Kildee received his high school diploma from St. Mary’s High School.
He earned his B.A.
from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan
in 1952. He earned a teacher's certificate from the University of Detroit in 1955. He did graduate work in history and political science at the University of Peshawar
in Pakistan
from 1958 to 1959 under a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. He earned an M.A.
from the University of Michigan
in 1961.
He was a teacher at the Detroit Jesuit High School
from 1954 to 1956. Coming back in 1956 to Flint, Dale taught Latin
until 1964.
81st district from 1965 to 1974. He later served as a member of the Michigan State Senate from 1975 to 1976.
decided to retire to run for the U.S. Senate. State Senator Kildee won the general election with 70% of the vote. He won re-election 17 times, each with at least 56% of the vote except in 1992, 1994, and 2010. In 1992, he defeated Megan O'Neill with 54% of the vote. He won Genessee county with 74%, while he lost the district's other two counties: Oakland
and Lapeer
. In the 1994 rematch, he defeated her with just 51% of the vote, the lowest winning percentage of his career. In 2010, he defeated Republican farmer and businessman John Kupiec with 53% of the vote. Kupiec won Tuscola county
with 60%, while losing the district's other three counties. Kildee won Bay
(49%), Saginaw
(61%), and Genessee counties (55%).
Democrats in the Stupak coalition to vote for the bill. In 1997, he founded the House's Native American
Caucus to advocate Native American issues.
, where he sits on the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. Since 1993, he has been a co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Caucus. Since 1997, he has served as co-chair of the Native American Caucus.
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...
for Michigan's 5th congressional district
Michigan's 5th congressional district
Michigan's 5th congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.It is currently a mostly industrial area , with Tuscola County being the main exception. It encompasses much of the area south of Saginaw Bay...
, serving since 1977. He is a member of the Democratic Party
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...
. The district includes Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, Saginaw and Bay City
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
. In July 2011, Kildee announced he will retire after his current term is up.
Early life, education, and teaching career
Kildee was born in Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
on September 16, 1929 to Timothy and Norma Kildee. He was the fourth of five children; his brother Jack was born 14 months later. At the time of his birth, his family resided on New York Avenue on Flint's eastside
Eastside, Flint
Eastside, sometimes known as the State Streets, is a large neighborhood in Flint, Michigan. It is not to be confused with East Flint in which it resides. The neighborhood is bounded on the west by University Park and Buick City, the north by the Northeast Side, the east by Thrift City, and the...
. The family later moved to a house on Jane Avenue. In his senior year of high school, he won the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Medal of Citizenship. In 1947, Kildee received his high school diploma from St. Mary’s High School.
He earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1952. He earned a teacher's certificate from the University of Detroit in 1955. He did graduate work in history and political science at the University of Peshawar
University of Peshawar
The University of Peshawar is a public sector university in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. The university was established in October 1950 by Mr...
in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
from 1958 to 1959 under a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. He earned an M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1961.
He was a teacher at the Detroit Jesuit High School
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy
The University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, founded in 1877, is one of two Jesuit high schools in the city of Detroit, Michigan...
from 1954 to 1956. Coming back in 1956 to Flint, Dale taught Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
until 1964.
Michigan legislature
Kildee served as a member of the Michigan State House of RepresentativesMichigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
81st district from 1965 to 1974. He later served as a member of the Michigan State Senate from 1975 to 1976.
Elections
In 1976, incumbent Democrat U.S. Representative Donald RiegleDonald W. Riegle, Jr.
Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. is an American politician from Michigan, who served for five terms as a Representative and for three terms as a Senator.-Early life:...
decided to retire to run for the U.S. Senate. State Senator Kildee won the general election with 70% of the vote. He won re-election 17 times, each with at least 56% of the vote except in 1992, 1994, and 2010. In 1992, he defeated Megan O'Neill with 54% of the vote. He won Genessee county with 74%, while he lost the district's other two counties: Oakland
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
and Lapeer
Lapeer County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile . There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
. In the 1994 rematch, he defeated her with just 51% of the vote, the lowest winning percentage of his career. In 2010, he defeated Republican farmer and businessman John Kupiec with 53% of the vote. Kupiec won Tuscola county
Tuscola County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-15* M-24* M-25* M-46* M-81* M-138-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 58,266 people, 21,454 households, and 15,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 23,378 housing units at an average density of 29 per...
with 60%, while losing the district's other three counties. Kildee won Bay
Bay County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 110,157 people, 43,930 households, and 30,048 families residing in the county. The population density was 248 people per square mile . There were 46,423 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
(49%), Saginaw
Saginaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 210,039 people, 80,430 households, and 55,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 260 people per square mile . There were 85,505 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile...
(61%), and Genessee counties (55%).
Tenure
In 2010, he revealed that he will be voting for the Senate version of the Health Care reform bill without the Stupak Amendment language restricting federal abortion funding. In addition, reports surfaced that he is attempting to convince pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
Democrats in the Stupak coalition to vote for the bill. In 1997, he founded the House's Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
Caucus to advocate Native American issues.
Committee assignments
He is a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and serves as ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Education Reform and a member of the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations. He is also a member of the House Committee on ResourcesUnited States House Committee on Resources
The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, or Natural Resources Committee is a Congressional committee of the United States House of Representatives. Originally called the "Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs," the name was changed to the Natural Resources Committee in 1993...
, where he sits on the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. Since 1993, he has been a co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Caucus. Since 1997, he has served as co-chair of the Native American Caucus.
Personal life
He met his future wife Gayle, a French teacher, while teaching at Central. They married in 1965 and had three children, two boys and a girl. Both sons became army captains; their daughter became a commercial property manager.Sexual abuse allegations
Patrick Kildee, a second cousin, of Kildee has accused Kildee of sexually abusing him when he was 12 years old. In response, the Kildee claims that the family members who are accusing him of sexual abuse from 50 years ago have a history of mental illness and are simply attempting to blackmail for money.External links
- Congressman Dale Kildee official U.S. House site
- Kildee for Congress official campaign site