Jim Ananich | |
|---|---|
| Minority Leader of theMichigan Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2015 – January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Gretchen Whitmer |
| Succeeded by | Aric Nesbitt |
| Member of theMichigan Senate from the27th district | |
| In office May 14, 2013 – January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | John J. Gleason |
| Succeeded by | John Cherry III |
| Member of theMichigan House of Representatives from the49th district | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – May 13, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Gonzales |
| Succeeded by | Phil Phelps |
| President of theFlint City Council | |
| In office November 10, 2008 – November 9, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Carolyn Sims |
| Succeeded by | Delrico Loyd |
| Member of theFlint City Council from the 7th ward | |
| In office November 8, 2005 – November 9, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Matt Schlinker |
| Succeeded by | Dale Weighill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-09-20)September 20, 1975 (age 50) Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Andrea Abdella |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Michigan State University (BA) University of Michigan–Flint (MPA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
James Ananich (/ˈænənɪk/AN-ə-nik;[1] born September 20, 1975)[2] is an American politician from the State ofMichigan. He was aDemocratic Party member of theMichigan State Senate from 2013 to 2023, representing the27th district, which is located inGenesee County and includes the citiesBurton,Clio,Flint,Mount Morris andSwartz Creek and the townships ofFlint Township,Forest,Genesee,Mount Morris,Richfield,Thetford andVienna. He was the minority leader from 2015 to 2023.
James "Jim" Ananich was born to James and Susan Ananich as their only child. They raised him in Flint. His father wasFlint City Ombudsman. In 1986, Jim's mother died. The following year his father resigned as ombudsman to teach policy science atUniversity of Michigan-Flint. He attend Flint Central where he played basketball and tennis.[3]
Ananich attended and graduated in 1998 fromMichigan State University with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics and a secondary teaching certificate in social studies. He also received a master's degree in Public Administration-Educational Administration from theUniversity of Michigan-Flint.[3][4][5]
At Michigan State he joined the College Democrats. In 1998, he interned with theMichigan Democratic Party then went to work for Senate Minority LeaderJohn Cherry.[3]
From 1998 to 2001, he worked for U.S. Rep.Dale Kildee, D-Flint.[6] Until 2000, Ananich worked in Kildee's Washington, DC office. In 2000, his dad died thus he returned to Flint and worked out of Kildee's district office. After his 2004 primary loss, he worked forBob Emerson.[3]
Ananich met Andrea Abdella at the voting booth. Jim and Andrea were wed on November 8, 2003.[3]
He then became a teacher in theCarman-Ainsworth andFlint Community School Districts from 2005 to 2009 teaching social studies.[6] He was later employed by Priority Children as an education coordinator until 2011.[4]
Ananich served on the Flint City Council from November 8, 2005 to November 9, 2009.[3][6] He ran againstLee Gonzales for Michigan State Representative in the 2004 Democratic primary and lost.[7] The next year, he was elected toFlint City Council and serve until 2009. On November 10, 2008, Ananich was selected by the council to be their president replacing Carolyn Sims.[8][9] Ananich was succeeded as Council President by Delrico Loyd and as Member from the 7th ward by Dale Weighill.[10][11] He then ran for State Representative in 2010 winning against Allan Pool 67% to 33%, succeeding Gonzales.[12]
Ananich was unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 7, 2012 in his run for reelection, which he won on November 6 with nearly 74 percent of the votes. He introduced a bill on February 5, 2013 to correct a law regarding the abuse of vulnerable adults changing how prosecuting attorneys prove their case and was signed into law on June 4, 2013.[6]
In 2013, with a vacancy due toJohn J. Gleason's resignation from the 27 District State Senate seat, he won election to the position on May 7.[13] He introduced on October 23 a drive-by shooting incidents law that increased penalties which was passed and signed into law July 16, 2014. His scrap metal bill was signed into law on December 31. Ananich faced no opposition in the Democratic primary election on August 5, 2014.[6] The Democratic State Senate caucus on November 6, 2014 selected Ananich to be the upcoming Senate Minority Leader.[6]
Shortly into his tenure as senator, theFlint water crisis enfolded over the course of several months and drew national attention toFlint. On January 13, 2016, Ananich called for the state to refund $2 million to the city; Ananich also requested further emergency funding from the state and a commitment to long-term funding to address the effects of the lead contamination.[14] Ananich also criticized the roleemergency managers played in the crisis and said that the law allowing the position of emergency manager should be reviewed and repealed.[15] On January 20, 2016, Ananich introduced Senate Resolution 0133 (2016) that would grant state lawmakers probing the Flint water crisis subpoena power over the governor's office, which is immune to the stateFreedom of Information Act.[16]
On February 23, 2016, the Michigan state legislature started a committee to investigate the crisis. Ananich was named co-vice-chair along with RepresentativeEd McBroom.[17][18]
Ananich is a supporter ofcryptocurrencies and stated that he wants to make Michigan the most pro-Bitcoin state in the country in 2022.[19]
| Position | Election Year | Votes | Opponent's Votes | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Representative | 2004 Primary | Lee Gonzales[7] | ||
| State Representative | 2010 | 16,771 | 7,881 | Allen Pool (R)[20] |
| State Senate | 2013 | 8,728 | 2,640 | Robert Daunt[13] |
| State Senate | 2014 | 51,296 | 15,057 | Brendt Gerics[21] |
| Michigan Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minority Leader of theMichigan Senate 2015–2023 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
