Gilda Jacobs
Encyclopedia
Gilda Z. Jacobs was a Democratic
member of the Michigan Senate
, representing the 14th District from 2003 through 2010. The mostly suburban district is in southeastern Oakland County
, and includes the cities of Farmington Hills, Huntington Woods
, Southfield
, and Oak Park
. Jacobs was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. She currently serves as president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services.
, received her bachelor’s degree in science with a distinction in education in 1970 and a master’s degree in behavioral sciences in education in 1971. She was a special education teacher in the Madison School District until the late 1980s.
in 1998, where she served for two terms. She represented the 35th district, which includes most of the city of Southfield. While in the House, she made history by being the first female floor leader in either House of the legislature. In 2002, she ran for the open State Senate seat being vacated by Senator Gary Peters
. She won in a landslide in the heavily Democratic 14th district. She served as the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. She was the vice-chair of the Economic Development, Small Business & Regulatory Reform Committee and the Families and Human Services Committee, and also served on Government Operations and Health Policy Committees. There was early speculation that Jacobs might challenge Rep. Joe Knollenberg
, but she decided against it and endorsed her predecessor in the State Senate, Gary Peters
.
Due to Michigan's term limits, Jacobs was not eligible to run for re-election in 2010, and she was succeeded by Vincent Gregory, a Democrat from Southfield.
named her one of the 100 New Democrats to Watch, a list of up-and-coming Democratic politicians. She is a member of Triangle Foundation's Board of Advisors.
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...
member of 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....
, representing the 14th District from 2003 through 2010. The mostly suburban district is in southeastern Oakland County
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 includes the cities of Farmington Hills, Huntington Woods
Huntington Woods, Michigan
Huntington Woods is a city in southern Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,238 at the 2010 census. Huntington Woods is an inner suburb of Detroit and is bounded by Ten Mile and Eleven Mile Roads to the north and south, and by Coolidge Highway and Woodward Avenue to...
, Southfield
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 Oak Park
Oak Park, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,793 people, 11,104 households, and 7,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,863.8 persons per square mile . There were 11,370 housing units at an average density of 2,263.9 per square mile...
. Jacobs was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. She currently serves as president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services.
Early life
Senator Jacobs graduated from the University of MichiganUniversity 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...
, received her bachelor’s degree in science with a distinction in education in 1970 and a master’s degree in behavioral sciences in education in 1971. She was a special education teacher in the Madison School District until the late 1980s.
Political career
Jacobs was the first woman elected to the Huntington Woods City Commission, serving from 1981 to 1994. She was the Mayor Pro Tem of Huntington Woods in 1993-94, and served as Oakland County Commissioner from 1995 to 1998. She was elected to 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...
in 1998, where she served for two terms. She represented the 35th district, which includes most of the city of Southfield. While in the House, she made history by being the first female floor leader in either House of the legislature. In 2002, she ran for the open State Senate seat being vacated by Senator Gary Peters
Gary Peters (Michigan politician)
Gary Peters is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Oakland County, a suburban county northwest of Detroit. He previously represented the 14th District in the Michigan Senate, and was a political science professor at...
. She won in a landslide in the heavily Democratic 14th district. She served as the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. She was the vice-chair of the Economic Development, Small Business & Regulatory Reform Committee and the Families and Human Services Committee, and also served on Government Operations and Health Policy Committees. There was early speculation that Jacobs might challenge Rep. Joe Knollenberg
Joe Knollenberg
Joseph "Joe" Knollenberg is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. From 1993 to 2009, he was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing ....
, but she decided against it and endorsed her predecessor in the State Senate, Gary Peters
Gary Peters (Michigan politician)
Gary Peters is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Oakland County, a suburban county northwest of Detroit. He previously represented the 14th District in the Michigan Senate, and was a political science professor at...
.
Due to Michigan's term limits, Jacobs was not eligible to run for re-election in 2010, and she was succeeded by Vincent Gregory, a Democrat from Southfield.
Personal
Senator Jacobs is married to John Jacobs and has two adult daughters, Jessica and Rachel. She lives in Huntington Woods. Jacobs endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. In 2003, the Democratic Leadership CouncilDemocratic Leadership Council
The Democratic Leadership Council was a non-profit 501 corporation that, upon its formation, argued the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it took in the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
named her one of the 100 New Democrats to Watch, a list of up-and-coming Democratic politicians. She is a member of Triangle Foundation's Board of Advisors.
Electoral history
- 2006 Election for the Michigan State Senate - 14th District
Name Percent Gilda Jacobs (D) 73% Tara Bellingar (R) 27%
- 2002 Election for the Michigan State Senate - 14th District
Name Percent Gilda Jacobs (D) 68% Marc Wilkins (R) 32%
- 2000 Election for the Michigan State House - 35th District
Name Percent Gilda Jacobs (D) 55% Aaron Samson (R) 45%
- 1998 Election for the Michigan State House - 35th District
Name Percent Gilda Jacobs (D) 70% Cecilio Maldonado (R) 30%
External links
- Michigan Senate - Gilda Jacobs official government website
- Floor Statements video clips
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Gilda Z. Jacobs (MI) profile
- Follow the Money - Gilda Z Jacobs
- Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus
- Michigan Liberal - SD14
- Blogging for Michigan Sen. Jacobs: It's Time to Lift Michigan's Ban on Stem Cell Research