Although Liz Brater graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, she shows her Wolverine spirit through her work as a state representative in Lansing.
Brater, a Democrat, represents the central portion of the University campus community as well as other areas in Ann Arbor and surrounding townships.
She said the University is an important part of her constituency.
"I pay a lot of attention to issues that affect the University," said Brater, who is a member of the House Colleges and Universities Committee.
In addition to being its representative in Lansing, Brater has even closer ties to the University. Her husband, Enoch, is an English professor, and she taught introductory composition at the University before trying her hand at state politics.
"I have always loved teaching," Brater said.
Brater has been a member of the state House since 1994. She became active in politics in 1988, when she was elected a city council member to represent Ann Arbor's third ward. She ran for council because she was interested in the issue of historic preservation.
Brater held the council seat until 1991, when she was elected to be Ann Arbor's mayor. She held the top spot in Ann Arbor's city government for two years.
Her experiences in city government prepared her for Lansing politics, she said.
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| FILE PHOTO As much as she pleads, House Democrat Liz Brater only will be able to spend one more term in Lansing. Term limits have made the focus of this year's re-election campaign more intense as it is her last. |
"The work I did in local government has been very helpful to me," Brater said.
The lawsuits filed last year challenging the University's affirmative action programs, Brater said, should not involve legislators. The suit filed against the College of Literature, Science and Arts was spearheaded by four state representatives.
"I'd like the state to stay out of it," Brater said.
It is important for the University to maintain an open dialogue on affirmative action, Brater said.
"I am impressed with the work President Bollinger and Provost Cantor have done to open the discussion on affirmative action," Brater said.
Brater is also an advocate of increasing state funding to public colleges and universities.
"The state share of tuition just has not held itself up over the years," she said.
While funding for institutions of higher education comprises one-eighth of the state budget, Brater said it is unfortunate that prisons also receive 1/8 of state appropriations.
She criticized Gov. John Engler's budget proposal, which calls for a larger funding increase to prison systems than to universities.
"His recommendation fell short of the needs of higher education," Brater said. "It's unfortunate that he is putting priority to correctional facilities."
In the House, Brater has proposed many environmental initiatives, including establishing an environmental report card, which would measure state environmental factors such as air and water quality.
"I've tried to be a voice for continuing a strong environmental policy and maintaining strict standards to prevent pollution," Brater said.
Because Michigan is the only state surrounded by the Great Lakes, Brater said, its government has an added responsibility to ensure clean water.
Brater is in her second term in the state House, and she said she plans to run for reelection in November.
If she is re-elected, it will be her last term due to term limits that go into effect this year.
Term limits, Brater said, restrict voters' choices and limit the accomplishments of legislators by limiting them to six years in office.
"I think people have the right to choose the person they want to represent them," Brater said. "We're losing a lot of expertise."
Campaign finance reform, not term limits, is the key to reform in Lansing, Brater said.
"Right now there is too much influence from special interest groups," Brater said. "In order to change the system, you need campaign finance reform."
| Mary Schroer | Liz Brater | |
| Represents: | 52nd District of Michigan | 53rd District of Michigan |
| Committees: | House Appropriations | Consumer Protection (chair), Colleges and Universities, Conservation, Environment and Recreation, Forestry and Mineral Rights, Local Government, Mental Health |
| Party affiliation: | Democrat | Democrat |
| Office: | Room 550, Roosevelt Building, P.O. Box 30014, Lansing, Mich. 48909 | Room 550, Roosevelt Building, P.O. Box 30014, Lansing, Mich. 48909 |
| Education: | Washtenaw Community College, Eastern Michigan University | University of Chicago (B.A. - American Civilization), University of Pennsylvania (M.A. - history) |
| Elected: | in 1992 | in 1994 |
| Terms left: | None | Campaigning in fall for last term |
| Past positions: | Legislative assistant to state Sen. Lana Pollack for 10 years, Board member for the Michigan Women's Campaign Fund, Member of Pittsfield Township Economic Development Corporation Board | Ann Arbor City Council member, 1988-91 |
09-08-98
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