Garlin Gilchrist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garlin Gilchrist
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Gilchrist in 2023
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| 64th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 |
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| Governor | Gretchen Whitmer |
| Preceded by | Brian Calley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Garlin Gilchrist II
September 25, 1982 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ellen Gilchrist |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Michigan (BS) |
Garlin Gilchrist II (born September 25, 1982) is an American politician and engineer. He is currently the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. He has served in this role since 2019, working alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Gilchrist is a member of the Democratic Party. He is also planning to run for governor in the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election.
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Early Life and Education
Gilchrist was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1989, his family moved to Farmington, Michigan. His mother worked for General Motors for over 30 years. His father worked in defense for the United States Department of Defense.
In 2005, Gilchrist graduated from the University of Michigan. He earned a degree in engineering. He studied both computer science and computer engineering.
Career Highlights
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After college, Gilchrist moved to Redmond, Washington. He worked at Microsoft for four years as a software engineer. There, he helped create a program called SharePoint. Later, he became a community organizer. He also directed new media for a group called Community Change. He then worked for MoveOn.org in Washington, D.C..
In 2014, Gilchrist returned to Detroit. He joined the city government. He was the director of innovation and emerging technology. He helped create the "Improve Detroit" smartphone app. This app lets people report problems to the city. He also led the Center for Social Media Responsibility at the University of Michigan.
In 2017, Gilchrist ran for Detroit City Clerk. He lost the election by a small number of votes.
In 2018, Gretchen Whitmer chose Gilchrist as her running mate. They ran together in the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial election. They won against the Republican team. When Whitmer won, Gilchrist made history. He became the first African American to be Michigan's lieutenant governor. He was also the first lieutenant governor born in the 1980s. He started his term on January 1, 2019.
In 2019, Gilchrist was recognized as a "Community Change Champion." This was for his work to improve social and racial fairness in the United States.
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Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
As Lieutenant Governor, Garlin Gilchrist has worked on important issues for Michigan. He was a vice-chair for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
In November 2022, Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist were re-elected. They won by a large number of votes. They defeated the Republican candidates.
On April 9, 2020, Governor Whitmer asked Gilchrist to lead a special task force. This group looked into why the COVID-19 pandemic affected different racial groups unevenly. Gilchrist later announced that the task force helped reduce these differences.
A study in 2021 praised Michigan's task force. It said the group helped lower COVID-19 cases and deaths among Black residents. For example, cases for Black residents dropped significantly from March to October 2020.
Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration
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Gilchrist also helped lead another important group. This was the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration. This group included leaders from both political parties. They looked at why more people were being held in jails.
The task force met many times with people across Michigan. They worked together to find solutions. In January 2021, many new laws were passed. These laws were based on the task force's ideas.
These new laws were called "historic." They aimed to keep communities safe. They also helped thousands of people avoid arrest for minor offenses. Some of the changes included:
- Stopping license suspensions for minor violations not related to driving safety.
- Changing some traffic tickets to civil violations instead of misdemeanors.
- Allowing police officers to give tickets instead of making arrests for many minor offenses.
- Making it easier for people with minor past offenses to get job licenses.
- Sealing juvenile records from public view. This helps young people get a fresh start.
- Limiting warrants for people who miss court for minor first-time offenses.
- Removing required minimum prison sentences for certain minor violations.
Personal Life
Garlin Gilchrist and his wife, Ellen, have three children.
See also
In Spanish: Garlin Gilchrist para niños
