Vicki Barnett
Encyclopedia
Vicki Barnett is a Democratic member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
, and a former mayor of Farmington Hills
, located in Oakland County
. In 2008, she was overwhelmingly elected to represent the 37th State House District, located in Oakland County and covering the cities of Farmington
and Farmington Hills
. She defeated Republican Paul Welday and succeeded the late Aldo Vagnozzi
, who retired due to term limits.
. She received a Bachelor's Degree
from the University of Michigan-Dearborn
in 1983, and later received her Master's Degree
in Business Administration in 1991, also from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has worked as an investment consultant at LPL Financial in Farmington Hills
since 1999, and is a licensed accident, life, and health insurance agent. Barnett married her husband, attorney Mark Steckloff, in 1981, and together they have two children, Samantha and Jordan. She belongs to the Roosevelt Chapter of the Hadassah
, a women's Zionist volunteer organization.
, who could not run for re-election due to term limits. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary, but faced Republican Paul Welday in the General Election. Welday was the chief of staff to former Republican Congressman Joe Knollenberg
, and the election was generally thought to be competitive. However, Barnett's popularity as mayor, as well as the coattails of then-candidate Barack Obama
led Barnett to an easy 60%-40% victory over Welday.
Michigan 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...
, and a former mayor of Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
, located in 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...
. In 2008, she was overwhelmingly elected to represent the 37th State House District, located in Oakland County and covering the cities of Farmington
Farmington, Michigan
Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
and Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
. She defeated Republican Paul Welday and succeeded the late Aldo Vagnozzi
Aldo Vagnozzi
Aldo Vagnozzi was a Democratic politician from the state of Michigan. Vagnozzi was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represented the 37th District, which is located in Oakland County and includes the cities of Farmington Hills and Farmington, from 2002 until 2006.-Early...
, who retired due to term limits.
Biography
Vicki Barnett was born on July 8, 1954 to a Jewish family in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, 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...
. She received a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor'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...
from the University of Michigan-Dearborn
University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan–Dearborn , is a public university located in Dearborn, Michigan, USA.The University of Michigan–Dearborn is one of two regional campuses of the University of Michigan...
in 1983, and later received her Master's Degree
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...
in Business Administration in 1991, also from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has worked as an investment consultant at LPL Financial in Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
since 1999, and is a licensed accident, life, and health insurance agent. Barnett married her husband, attorney Mark Steckloff, in 1981, and together they have two children, Samantha and Jordan. She belongs to the Roosevelt Chapter of the Hadassah
Hadassah
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with around...
, a women's Zionist volunteer organization.
Political career
Barnett was elected as a Democrat the Farmington Hills City Council in 1995. She served in this position until 2003, when she was elected mayor. She served as the cities mayor until 2007. In 2008, she announced her intention to run for the 37th State House seat, which was left open by the retirement of Democrat Aldo VagnozziAldo Vagnozzi
Aldo Vagnozzi was a Democratic politician from the state of Michigan. Vagnozzi was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represented the 37th District, which is located in Oakland County and includes the cities of Farmington Hills and Farmington, from 2002 until 2006.-Early...
, who could not run for re-election due to term limits. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary, but faced Republican Paul Welday in the General Election. Welday was the chief of staff to former Republican Congressman 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 ....
, and the election was generally thought to be competitive. However, Barnett's popularity as mayor, as well as the coattails of then-candidate 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...
led Barnett to an easy 60%-40% victory over Welday.
Electoral history
- 2008 campaign for State House
- Vicki Barnett (D), 60%
- Paul Welday (R), 40%