Alma Wheeler Smith facts for kids

Alma Wheeler Smith, born on August 6, 1941, is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

She served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010. During this time, she represented the 54th District. This district includes the city of Ypsilanti and several nearby townships in Washtenaw County.

Before that, she was a member of the Michigan Senate for eight years, from 1995 to 2002. She also ran to become the Governor of Michigan in 2010.

Early Public Service

Alma Wheeler Smith started her career working in local government. She served as a commissioner for cable television services. She was also a trustee and president on a school board. Later, she became a county commissioner.

She then served as a State Senator for the 18th District. This district included Ann Arbor. She held this position for eight years. Her time in the Senate ended because of "term limits." Term limits are rules that say how many times a person can be elected to the same office.

Serving in the State House

In the Michigan House of Representatives, Alma Wheeler Smith worked on many different laws. She introduced bills on various important topics.

She served in the Michigan House from January 1, 2005, until December 31, 2010. She could not run for her House seat again in 2010. This was also due to term limits.

Running for Governor

In 2010, Representative Smith announced she would run for governor. She wanted to lead the state of Michigan. Her campaign focused on several key areas.

She aimed to make sure everyone had access to health care. She also wanted equal education opportunities for all students. Protecting the environment was another important goal. She also supported strong cities and a healthy business environment. She believed in protecting civil rights for all citizens.

However, on May 10, 2010, she decided not to continue her campaign. She explained that she did not want to divide the votes among Democrats. She felt it was important for the party to unite behind one candidate.

Family Connections

Alma Wheeler Smith comes from a well-known political family in Ann Arbor. Her father, Albert H. Wheeler, was the mayor of Ann Arbor. He served from 1975 to 1978. He was the first African American to be mayor of the city.

Her sister, Nancy Francis, has been a judge in Washtenaw County since 1990. Alma's son, Conan, also served as a Washtenaw County commissioner. He was elected to lead the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party in 2008. Conan's former wife, Rebekah Warren, also served in the Michigan Senate. She represented the same 18th District that Alma Wheeler Smith once held.