Chris Kolb
Encyclopedia
Chris Kolb is a politician from Ann Arbor, Michigan
and a former member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
. A Democrat
, Kolb represented the 53rd district, based in Ann Arbor, from January 2001 to January 2007. He was first elected in November 2000, and term limits prevented him from seeking a fourth two-year term in 2006. Kolb was the first (and so far the only) openly gay member of the Michigan Legislature
.
, where he received a bachelor of science in natural resources before conducting graduate studies in political science at Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia
.
He worked in the environmental management field for 12 years, specializing in waste management and recycling.
nominee in 1996 and 1998, accusing incumbent Republican
mayor Ingrid Sheldon
of not doing enough in the areas of environmental policy, affordable housing, and downtown vitality, but he lost both races by narrow margins.
In 2000, he ran for state representative in the 53rd district, seeking to succeed the term-limited Liz Brater. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and won the general election with 27,682 votes (71%) to his Republican opponent's 11,553 (29%). On his taking office, Kolb became the first ever openly gay member of the Michigan Legislature. His election campaigns have frequently won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
.
Kolb also previously served as a Legislative Aide to State Representative John P. Hansen.
In the Michigan House, Kolb supported environmental
legislation such as the Open Space Preservation Act, signed into law by Governor Jennifer Granholm
. In 2002, Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed him to the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council, which would advise her on land use policy. He also supported low tuition at state universities and attempted to add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics covered under the state’s Ethnic Intimidation Act.
As of 2010, Kolb's political future is unclear. Term limits prevent him from seeking a return to the State House
; Michigan's term limits amendment imposes a lifetime maximum of three two-year terms as a state representative. In 2010, he declined to run for the Michigan Senate
in the 18th District, a seat left open when Democratic Sen. Liz Brater
was termed out.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
and a former member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Kolb represented the 53rd district, based in Ann Arbor, from January 2001 to January 2007. He was first elected in November 2000, and term limits prevented him from seeking a fourth two-year term in 2006. Kolb was the first (and so far the only) openly gay member of the Michigan Legislature
Michigan Legislature
The Michigan Legislature is the legislative assembly of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral body consisting of the Senate, the upper house, and the House of Representatives, the lower house. Article IV of the state's Constitution, adopted in 1963, defines the role of the...
.
Early life
Kolb graduated from Huron High School in 1976. He went on the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he received a bachelor of science in natural resources before conducting graduate studies in political science at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
He worked in the environmental management field for 12 years, specializing in waste management and recycling.
Political career
Prior to his tenure in the House, Kolb served eight years on the Ann Arbor City Council and was Mayor Pro-tem from 1994 through 2000. Kolb ran for mayor of Ann Arbor as the DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee in 1996 and 1998, accusing incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
mayor Ingrid Sheldon
Ingrid Sheldon
Ingrid Blom Sheldon was mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1993 to 2000. A moderate Republican, she served four two-year terms in the post.-Biography:...
of not doing enough in the areas of environmental policy, affordable housing, and downtown vitality, but he lost both races by narrow margins.
In 2000, he ran for state representative in the 53rd district, seeking to succeed the term-limited Liz Brater. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and won the general election with 27,682 votes (71%) to his Republican opponent's 11,553 (29%). On his taking office, Kolb became the first ever openly gay member of the Michigan Legislature. His election campaigns have frequently won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
.
Kolb also previously served as a Legislative Aide to State Representative John P. Hansen.
In the Michigan House, Kolb supported environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
legislation such as the Open Space Preservation Act, signed into law by Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
. In 2002, Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed him to the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council, which would advise her on land use policy. He also supported low tuition at state universities and attempted to add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics covered under the state’s Ethnic Intimidation Act.
After the House
On leaving the House of Representatives, Kolb accepted a job with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, a state agency charged with the education of children under the age of five. He served as Vice President for Public Affairs. He also served as executive director of Unity Michigan, the statewide LGBT rights group. In December 2008, he became President of the Michigan Environmental Council, a statewide coalition of 70 environmental, public health and faith-based nonprofit groups.As of 2010, Kolb's political future is unclear. Term limits prevent him from seeking a return to the State House
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
; Michigan's term limits amendment imposes a lifetime maximum of three two-year terms as a state representative. In 2010, he declined to run for the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
in the 18th District, a seat left open when Democratic Sen. Liz Brater
Elizabeth Brater
Elizabeth Brater is a Democratic former member of the Michigan Senate, who represented the 18th District from 2003 to 2010, and served as the Assistant Minority Leader. Her district included the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti...
was termed out.
Electoral history
- 2004 election for State House
- Chris Kolb (D), 80%
- Erik Sheagren (R), 20%
- 2002 election for State House
- Chris Kolb (D), 78%
- John Milroy (R), 22%
- 2000 election for State House
- Chris Kolb (D), 71%
- Robert Bykowski (R), 29%