Irma Clark-Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irma Clark-Coleman
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Clark-Coleman in 2024
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| Member of the Wayne County Commission from the 5th district 6th District (2011–2012) |
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| Assumed office January 1, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Keith D. Williams |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 3rd district |
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| In office January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Raymond M. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Morris Hood III |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 11th district |
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| In office January 1, 1999 – December 31, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Morris Hood, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Morris Hood III |
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| Born | April 14, 1937 Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | June 10, 2025 (aged 88) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ron |
| Profession | Public administration |
Irma Clark-Coleman (April 14, 1937 – June 10, 2025) was an American politician from Michigan. She spent many years working to improve her community as a public servant. As a member of the Democratic Party, she was elected to several important government positions.
Clark-Coleman served in the Michigan Senate from 2003 to 2010. Before that, she was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. Her career shows a long history of dedication to the people of Michigan.
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Early Life and Education
Irma Clark-Coleman grew up in Detroit and went to Detroit Public Schools. She believed in the power of education and continued her studies at Wayne State University. There, she earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in communications.
A Long Career in Public Service
Clark-Coleman dedicated most of her life to working for the public. Her career began in 1967 in Wayne County government. She started as a stenographer and, through hard work, moved up to more important roles.
Over the years, she became an assistant director for the county Road Commission and a manager for media relations. She also worked as a press secretary for County Executive Ed McNamara and later became the Director of Human Relations. She retired from her work with Wayne County in 1998 after more than 30 years of service.
Work in Politics and Government
After retiring from her first career, Clark-Coleman wanted to continue helping her community. She decided to enter politics to make a difference in education and state laws.
Serving on the School Board
In 1991, Clark-Coleman was chosen to be on the Detroit Board of Education. A school board is a group of people who make important decisions for a city's schools. She served on the board until 1998 and even became its president from 1996 to 1998.
Elected to State Government
In 1998, Clark-Coleman was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is one of two groups that make laws for the state of Michigan. The people in her district voted for her again in 2000.
In 2002, she was elected to the Michigan State Senate, the other group that makes state laws. She was re-elected in 2006. In the Senate, she was part of the Appropriations Committee, which helps decide how the state spends its money.
Michigan has rules called term limits, which set a maximum amount of time a person can hold a certain political office. Because of these rules, Clark-Coleman could not run for the Senate again in 2010.
Personal Life
Clark-Coleman was married to Reverend Ron D. Coleman, Sr. Together, they had two children.
Election Success
When Clark-Coleman ran for office, she was very popular with voters. In her elections for the Michigan State Senate in 2002 and 2006, she won by a large margin. In the 2006 election, for example, she received over 82% of the vote. This showed that the people in her district trusted her to represent them.
