At the limit

Schroer leaves the House after six years

Because of term limits, the state legislature will lose many veteran representatives who worked diligently to serve their constituents and improve the overall quality of life in Michigan. Mary Schroer, who served the 53rd District, will leave Lansing next month after being a top advocate for the University and boldly expressing her views for six years.

While the political climate in the state Legislature has gradually moved toward the right in the past decade, Schroer has stood by her liberal beliefs. She proposed many bills that were struck down by her conservative colleagues, including a bill that would mandate a parenting education curriculum in public schools.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which allocates funding to all state entities along with the state Senate and governor, Schroer firmly supported increased funding for higher education. As a former Washtenaw Community College and Eastern Michigan University student, Schroer understood the expense college students endure and worked to keep tuition increases at all state universities and colleges below the Consumer Price Index.

Schroer's quick wit and commitment to liberal causes acted to balance the conservative politics that dominated the Legislature during her tenure. One of her adversaries in Lansing was state Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb), the relentlessly conservative legislator who spearheaded one of two lawsuits challenging the University's race-based admissions. When Jaye, as a representative in 1997, proposed a bill that would provide one-way bus fare out of the state to welfare recipients, Schroer made state headlines by canvassing the House floor collecting money for a bus ticket sending Jaye out of Michigan.

Over the past year, Schroer has been developing a Political Action Committee fund to support state candidates who are against concealed weapons. Because Schroer will be unable to fight the looming threat of concealed weapon legislation as a representative in the upcoming terms, she is doing her best to make sure others can.

When Schroer was elected to the legislature in 1992, she had not yet served in an elected office. Through hard work and perseverance, she learned the ropes of an often complex job.

Schroer's dedication to policy began when she was active in the Ann Arbor Parents and Teachers Organization. Her commitment was noticed, and she was hired as a legislative aide to former state Sen. Lana Pollack.

Schroer, an Ohio native, understands the concerns and problems of working- and middle-class people. She was forced to drop out of Eastern Michigan University when she became pregnant with twin daughters.

Now that her term is about to expire Schroer plans to continue her education and earn a bachelors degree at Eastern Michigan University in January.

But Schroer is not abandoning public service altogether. In November, she was elected to the Washtenaw County Community College Board of Trustees. Although it will not be as high profile as her previous job, it will allow her to continue her mission of improving public education in Michigan.

11-30-98