"There are rocky breaches that need to be healed."
-- Senate Democratic Leader-Elect Mike Prusi
"The people of Michigan have told us they expect us to work together."
-- House Republican Leader-Elect Kevin Elsenheimer
With selection by their caucuses as minority leaders, two small-town Up North lawmakers have ended the grip that downstate population centers have on the four top leadership posts in the Senate and House.
Sen. Mike Prusi, of Ishpeming, after narrowly defeating Sen. Buzz Thomas, of Detroit -- by two votes, says one source -- will take over as Senate Democratic Leader when Mark Schauer, of Battle Creek, goes to Congress in January. Although old records are sketchy, Senate staffers believe him to be the first Upper Peninsula senator to win the post.
While the legendary former state Rep. Dominic Jaccobetti, D-Negaunee, never served as caucus leader, his 1955-95 service -- much of which was as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee -- defined Up North legislative clout.
Other former northern legislative leaders of note include ex-Sen. Mitch Irwin, of Sault Ste. Marie, and ex-Rep. Pat Gagliardi, also from the eastern Upper Peninsula (Drummond Island), both Democrats.
Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer, of Kewadin, will replace term-limited Craig DeRoche, of Novi, as House Republican Leader. The most recent northerner to be the top House Republican was 2001-02 Speaker Rick Johnson, of LeRoy.
It was encouraging to hear Prusi and Elsenheimer, in phone interviews Friday, vow to eschew rigid partisanship and seek cooperative relations with the opposition. Democrats will have a dominating 67-43 edge in the House (previously 58-52), and Republicans will rule 21-17 in the Senate, which was not up this year.
Both share a view -- easier said than done -- on one of the best solutions to Michigan's many woes: more jobs.
Both, upon election, made quick contact with their counterparts, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, and House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township.
Prusi, a 20-year iron ore miner who headed his Steelworkers union before serving three House terms, wants the two parties to heal breaches and "do something right out of the chute to set a positive tone," possibly in the area of transportation infrastructure.
Elsenheimer, a former assistant prosecuting attorney for Antrim County, said he and Dillon agreed to meet frequently. He also vowed to continue to work with northern House Democrats on economic programs benefiting both peninsulas.
Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, the Senate's majority whip, said the elevation of Elsenheimer bodes well for northern Michigan on economic and other issues.
In his initial meeting as leader-elect with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Prusi got no clue as to whether she might join the Obama administration. But his impression is that she will stay in Lansing because she wants to deal with economic and other issues that would help her "to leave on a high note."
Clearly, if Granholm were to leave amid the state's economic distress, it would be on a low note that would haunt her legacy.
Elsenheimer joins the state's GOP leadership circle at a time when its members are thrashing about in the wake of losses on the presidential, congressional, legislative and Supreme Court races.
Republican State Chairman Saul Anuzis, who is running to chair the Republican National Committee, said: "Kevin is an aggressive, politically savvy leader who will help rebuild our party's brand and lead the House Republicans back to gaining seats in 2010."
In echoing the "Big Tent ... more inclusive" calls of such out-of-office Republicans as ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell, Elsenheimer said the Republican party of Michigan "needs to look more like" the people of Michigan. He said the party not only has to rebuild, but "prove its relevance" to the needs of the people.
The day after his selection, he named five task forces to help prepare for the new session. Among their leaders: Suzanne Miller-Allen, wife of Senator Allen. She was chief of staff to House Speaker Paul Hillegonds and Senate Majority Leader Sikkema, and as of last week was said to be in the large mix of possible contenders to chair the state GOP.
George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.
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