Virgil Bernero
Encyclopedia
Virgil "Virg" Bernero is the current mayor of Lansing, Michigan
, elected on November 8, 2005 and re-elected on November 3, 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. Prior to serving as mayor, Bernero served as a legislative aide, an Ingham County
Commissioner and as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate
. He was the Democratic
nominee for Governor of Michigan
in 2010, losing in the November 2 general election to Republican Rick Snyder.
in the Metro Detroit
area. He was the youngest of five children born to Giulio, an Italian
immigrant, and Virginia, a first generation Italian-American. Bernero has said that the diagnosis of schizophrenia
of one of his brothers, and the death of another brother to AIDS
in 1990 (on the same day he was elected to the Ingham County
Commission) have helped to shape his life and politics.
Bernero graduated from Waterford Mott High School
in 1982, and from Adrian College
in 1986, with a B.A. in political science. He is married to Teri Johnston, with whom he has two daughters, Kelly and Virginia.
In 2007, Bernero appeared in the documentary Fired! by Annabelle Gurwitch
. The film chronicles the experiences of individuals who have been fired from their jobs. In it, Bernero was interviewed about his efforts to pass a law that would make it illegal for Michigan employers to fire their workers at will or for "moral or ethical reasons."
Bernero was re-elected as mayor of Lansing in November 2009, winning against opponent Carol Wood.
During Bernero's tenure, Lansing received more than a half-billion dollars in new investments that created more than 6,000 jobs. During potential revenue losses and rising costs, Bernero helped to eliminate more than $40 million in city budget deficits without raising taxes.
His tenure as mayor was not without some criticism, as issues with unemployment in Lansing and critics of his support of then-governor Granholm resulted in a petition to have him recalled as mayor. The petition ultimately failed.
by 90,326 votes or nearly 20 percentage points.
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...
, elected on November 8, 2005 and re-elected on November 3, 2009. 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...
. Prior to serving as mayor, Bernero served as a legislative aide, an Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
Commissioner and as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and 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....
. He was the Democratic
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...
nominee for Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in 2010, losing in the November 2 general election to Republican Rick Snyder.
Early life, education and career
Virg Bernero was born March 31, 1964 in Pontiac, MichiganPontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
in the Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area. He was the youngest of five children born to Giulio, an Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigrant, and Virginia, a first generation Italian-American. Bernero has said that the diagnosis of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
of one of his brothers, and the death of another brother to AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in 1990 (on the same day he was elected to the Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
Commission) have helped to shape his life and politics.
Bernero graduated from Waterford Mott High School
Waterford Mott High School
Waterford Mott High School is a public high school in the Waterford School District.-About Mott:Mott opened in 1969 with the first graduating class in June 1970. In 1983, the school district consolidated high schools and closed Waterford Township High School. This left two high schools in the...
in 1982, and from Adrian College
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
in 1986, with a B.A. in political science. He is married to Teri Johnston, with whom he has two daughters, Kelly and Virginia.
In 2007, Bernero appeared in the documentary Fired! by Annabelle Gurwitch
Annabelle Gurwitch
Annabelle Gurwitch is an American comedic actress. She is best known as the original hostess of TBS's Dinner and a Movie. She is also a noted author and columnist and was most recently the host of Wa$ted! on Planet Green....
. The film chronicles the experiences of individuals who have been fired from their jobs. In it, Bernero was interviewed about his efforts to pass a law that would make it illegal for Michigan employers to fire their workers at will or for "moral or ethical reasons."
Michigan State Representative
Bernero ran for and won a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives in 2000, serving one term before being elected to the Michigan State Senate in 2002.Michigan State Senator
Bernero was elected to the Michigan Senate on November 5, 2002, and served there until his election as Mayor three years later.Mayor of Lansing
Bernero was elected Mayor of Lansing on November 8, 2005.Bernero was re-elected as mayor of Lansing in November 2009, winning against opponent Carol Wood.
During Bernero's tenure, Lansing received more than a half-billion dollars in new investments that created more than 6,000 jobs. During potential revenue losses and rising costs, Bernero helped to eliminate more than $40 million in city budget deficits without raising taxes.
His tenure as mayor was not without some criticism, as issues with unemployment in Lansing and critics of his support of then-governor Granholm resulted in a petition to have him recalled as mayor. The petition ultimately failed.
Campaign for Michigan Governor
Bernero officially announced his intention to run for Governor of Michigan on February 8, 2010. On August 3, 2010, Bernero defeated primary challenger Andy DillonAndy Dillon
Andrew "Andy" Dillon is a Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, to be the state's treasurer...
by 90,326 votes or nearly 20 percentage points.
External links
- Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero official city government site
- Virg Bernero for Governor official campaign site