Dianne Byrum
Encyclopedia
Dianne Yvonne Byrum is a Democratic
politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. She resides in Onondaga Township
in Ingham County
. She is now a partner with Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, an East Lansing, Mich.
-based public relations firm that she founded with Mark Fisk, the former Communications Director for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus.
Byrum has been elected to numerous public offices, most recently as a member of the Michigan State University
Board of Trustees. Prior to that, Byrum served on the Michigan State House of Representatives
from the 67th District, where she served as the first-ever woman Democratic House Leader. Byrum was term limited out of that office at the end of 2006. Her daughter, Barb Byrum, was elected to replace her in the House of Representatives.
Byrum was previously elected to serve two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives from the 58th District, serving from 1991 to 1994. She then served in the Michigan Senate
representing the 25th District, from 1995 to 2002. She was also an Ingham County Commissioner from 1983 to 1990. In 2000, she ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Michigan's 8th Congressional district. She lost to Republican Mike Rogers by only 111 votes, making it the closest Congressional election in the United States that year.
Byrum served as spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, the organization that successfully passed a ballot initiative allowing the medical use of marijuana in Michigan on Nov. 4, 2008.
She also served as spokeswoman for Reform Michigan Government Now!, a Hastings, Michigan
-based group that attempted to reform Michigan's government through a 2008 ballot proposal.
Byrum served as Treasurer of the Michigan Democratic Party
from 2007 until 2009.
Since 2007, Byrum has served as Co-Director of the Michigan Public Leadership Program.
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...
politician from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. She resides in Onondaga Township
Onondaga Township, Michigan
Onondaga Township is a civil township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,958 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
. She is now a partner with Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, an East Lansing, Mich.
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
-based public relations firm that she founded with Mark Fisk, the former Communications Director for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus.
Byrum has been elected to numerous public offices, most recently as a member of the Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
Board of Trustees. Prior to that, Byrum served on 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...
from the 67th District, where she served as the first-ever woman Democratic House Leader. Byrum was term limited out of that office at the end of 2006. Her daughter, Barb Byrum, was elected to replace her in the House of Representatives.
Byrum was previously elected to serve two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives from the 58th District, serving from 1991 to 1994. She then served in 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....
representing the 25th District, from 1995 to 2002. She was also an Ingham County Commissioner from 1983 to 1990. In 2000, she ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Michigan's 8th Congressional district. She lost to Republican Mike Rogers by only 111 votes, making it the closest Congressional election in the United States that year.
Byrum served as spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, the organization that successfully passed a ballot initiative allowing the medical use of marijuana in Michigan on Nov. 4, 2008.
She also served as spokeswoman for Reform Michigan Government Now!, a Hastings, Michigan
Hastings, Michigan
Hastings is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, the county seat of Barry County as well as the county's only city. The population was 7,095 at the 2000 census. The city borders Hastings Charter Township on the north, east, and south, and Rutland Charter Township on the west...
-based group that attempted to reform Michigan's government through a 2008 ballot proposal.
Byrum served as Treasurer of the Michigan Democratic Party
Michigan Democratic Party
The Michigan Democratic Party is the state-level party of the United States Democratic Party in Michigan. It is based in Lansing. Mark Brewer is the current Party Chair.-Current officeholders:...
from 2007 until 2009.
Since 2007, Byrum has served as Co-Director of the Michigan Public Leadership Program.