Dominic Jacobetti
Encyclopedia
Dominic J. Jacobetti was a Democratic
politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. He holds the record as the longest-serving member of the Michigan House of Representatives, serving from 1955 until his death in 1994, representing Michigan's 108th and 109th Districts.
and graduated from St. Paul's High School in 1938. His first job was a miner for the Athens Mining Company. He was quickly promoted to the president of the local United Steel Workers Union. He married Marie Burnette in 1942 and had three children: Judith, Colin, and Dominic Jr. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 1954 and took office in January 1955.
, preventing the dumping of nuclear waste in the Upper Peninsula, tax limitation, seatbelt laws, insurance reform, veterans' rights, and legalizing abortions. He also fought to make Michigan's Upper Peninsula the 51st state. He commissioned the building of Marquette, Michigan
's Superior Dome
. Jacobetti was almost never opposed in elections. In fact his only major opponent during his forty year tenure was Alva J. Menhennick, who only received about thirty-five percent of the popular vote. Jacobetti was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan in 1960 and 1964. In the 1970s, Jacobetti helped efforts to make a separate state of Superior in the Upper Peninsula.
He was a staunch Catholic, and a member of numerous organizations, including the Moose; Eagles; Knights of Columbus; Elks; Lions. Jacobetti died in office on November 28, 1994 at his home in Negaunee. His burial location is the Northland Chapel Gardens in Negaunee Township
.
It was through his long tenure as the head of the Appropriations Committee, though, that Jacobetti had the largest impact. Jacobetti's chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee wielded significant influence over direction of revenue in the state of Michigan and this made Jacobetti a powerful politician. Though the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is relatively low in population in comparison to the rest of the state, Jacobetti used his position to help direct sometimes significant funding to the Upper Peninsula (considering its low population), including the building of the Superior Dome, among other projects. It was his position and influence that was pointed to when an effort to pass a term limits amendment to the state constitution was initiated, an effort which was successful. In the last few years of his tenure on the committee, there was a scandal involving misappropriation of funds by the committee. Jacobetti was initially stripped of his chairmanship and a number of Fiscal Agency employees were investigated and imprisoned. Jacobetti was re-elected to his final term of office in 1994 and cleared of any wrongdoing in the House Fiscal Agency scandal by Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley.
. Now that there are term limits in the Michigan House of Representatives, no one can ever serve longer than Jacobetti, barring the repeal of current term limit statutes.
, and the Good Neighbor of the Year Award. The D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, Michigan
and the D. J. Jacobetti Vocational Skills Center at Northern Michigan University
are named after him. The Michigan Department of Transportation
has designated a portion of M-28
in the Upper Peninsula in his honor.
In the words of the late Jacobetti - "Sempre Avanti" - Always forward
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
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"....
. He holds the record as the longest-serving member of the Michigan House of Representatives, serving from 1955 until his death in 1994, representing Michigan's 108th and 109th Districts.
Early life
Dominic was born to Italian immigrants, Nick and Josephine Jacobetti. He lived in Negaunee, MichiganNegaunee, Michigan
Negaunee is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,576 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southwest corner of Negaunee Township. The city is home to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum...
and graduated from St. Paul's High School in 1938. His first job was a miner for the Athens Mining Company. He was quickly promoted to the president of the local United Steel Workers Union. He married Marie Burnette in 1942 and had three children: Judith, Colin, and Dominic Jr. He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 1954 and took office in January 1955.
Career as a Michigan State Representative
Jacobetti represented Michigan's 108th district from 1954 to 1992 and the 109th district from 1992 until his death in 1994. Both districts are located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He served on the Educational Institutions Committee, Tuberculosis Hospitals Committee, Conservation Committee, House Policy Committee, State Affairs Committee, Appropriations Committee, just to name a few. He was the Chairman of many of these committees. He is renowned for his work towards improving the life of his constituents. He fought for improving educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, preventing the dumping of nuclear waste in the Upper Peninsula, tax limitation, seatbelt laws, insurance reform, veterans' rights, and legalizing abortions. He also fought to make Michigan's Upper Peninsula the 51st state. He commissioned the building of Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
's Superior Dome
Superior Dome
The Superior Dome, which opened as the "world’s largest wooden dome" on September 14, 1991, is a domed stadium on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. It is home to the Northern Michigan Wildcats football team, as well as a variety of campus and community events...
. Jacobetti was almost never opposed in elections. In fact his only major opponent during his forty year tenure was Alva J. Menhennick, who only received about thirty-five percent of the popular vote. Jacobetti was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan in 1960 and 1964. In the 1970s, Jacobetti helped efforts to make a separate state of Superior in the Upper Peninsula.
He was a staunch Catholic, and a member of numerous organizations, including the Moose; Eagles; Knights of Columbus; Elks; Lions. Jacobetti died in office on November 28, 1994 at his home in Negaunee. His burial location is the Northland Chapel Gardens in Negaunee Township
Negaunee Township, Michigan
Negaunee Township is a civil township of Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,707 at the 2000 census. The City of Negaunee is located at the southwest corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
.
It was through his long tenure as the head of the Appropriations Committee, though, that Jacobetti had the largest impact. Jacobetti's chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee wielded significant influence over direction of revenue in the state of Michigan and this made Jacobetti a powerful politician. Though the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is relatively low in population in comparison to the rest of the state, Jacobetti used his position to help direct sometimes significant funding to the Upper Peninsula (considering its low population), including the building of the Superior Dome, among other projects. It was his position and influence that was pointed to when an effort to pass a term limits amendment to the state constitution was initiated, an effort which was successful. In the last few years of his tenure on the committee, there was a scandal involving misappropriation of funds by the committee. Jacobetti was initially stripped of his chairmanship and a number of Fiscal Agency employees were investigated and imprisoned. Jacobetti was re-elected to his final term of office in 1994 and cleared of any wrongdoing in the House Fiscal Agency scandal by Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley.
Death
Jacobetti died suddenly at the age of 74 just weeks after being re-elected to his 21st and final term. He was succeeded by Michael PrusiMichael Prusi
Michael Prusi was a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate,who represented the 38th District from 2003 to 2010. His district included Gogebic, Iron, Ontonagon, Delta, Dickinson, Keweenaw, Houghton, Baraga, Marquette, Alger, Luce, Schoolcraft, and Menominee counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula...
. Now that there are term limits in the Michigan House of Representatives, no one can ever serve longer than Jacobetti, barring the repeal of current term limit statutes.
Honors and awards
Jacobetti was affectionately nicknamed Puga , King Jake, and Godfather of the U.P. In 1978 he was named one of the "Ten Outstanding State Legislators in the United States" because of his efforts to provide adequate staffing in governmental offices. He was named U.P. Person of The Year, received the Distinguished Citizens Award, the Honorary Doctors of Law degree from Northern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
, and the Good Neighbor of the Year Award. The D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
and the D. J. Jacobetti Vocational Skills Center at Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
are named after him. The Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
has designated a portion of M-28
M-28 (Michigan highway)
M-28 is an east–west state trunkline highway that almost completely traverses the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan, from Wakefield to near Sault Ste. Marie in Bruce Township...
in the Upper Peninsula in his honor.
In the words of the late Jacobetti - "Sempre Avanti" - Always forward
External links
- Tribute to Jacobetti by Bart Stupak in the U.S. House of Representatives, November 29, 1994
- The Dominic J. Jacobetti Collection at the Northern Michigan University & Central Upper Peninsula Archives]
- D. J. Jacobetti Vocational Skills Center at Northern Michigan University
- About the D.J Jacobetti Home for Veterans
- Find A Grave
- The Political Graveyard