Dick Posthumus
Encyclopedia
Richard Posthumus (born 19 July 1950) is an American farmer, businessman, and politician. He was the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
and majority leader
of the Michigan Senate
. In 2002, he was the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan
.
Posthumus grew up on a dairy farm in Alto, Michigan
, outside of Grand Rapids. He graduated from Michigan State University
, during which he served as chairman of the College Republicans
and as a vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.
In 1971, he managed the successful Michigan House of Representatives campaign of fellow student and future Michigan governor John Engler
. Posthumus was elected to the Senate in 1982 and became majority leader in 1990, when Engler was elected governor. His 1982 campaign was managed by Saul Anuzis
. Posthumus was the longest serving majority leader in the history of the Senate.
Posthumus joined Engler on as his running mate and candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998 and went on to serve in that post for four years. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2002, having defeated Joe Schwarz
in the Republican primary, but lost to Democrat Jennifer Granholm
in the general election. He joined Compatico in 2005 and became the chief executive officer in 2006.
On 8 November 2010, Governor-Elect Rick Snyder named Posthumus to be his senior adviser and legislative lobbyist.
Posthumus married Pam Bartz in 1972. They have four children and four grandchildren. Pam died of cancer on 18 August 2010.
of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life.
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
and majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
of 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 2002, he was the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 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"....
.
Posthumus grew up on a dairy farm in Alto, Michigan
Alto, Michigan
Alto is an unincorporated community in Bowne Township, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on Platt Lake Creek, at the intersection of Bancroft Avenue and 60th Street, just west of M-50 about two miles south of exit 52 off I-96. Alto was founded in 1845 by Daniel Skidmore. A...
, outside of Grand Rapids. He graduated from 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,...
, during which he served as chairman of the College Republicans
College Republicans
The College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
and as a vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.
In 1971, he managed the successful Michigan House of Representatives campaign of fellow student and future Michigan governor John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
. Posthumus was elected to the Senate in 1982 and became majority leader in 1990, when Engler was elected governor. His 1982 campaign was managed by Saul Anuzis
Saul Anuzis
Saulius "Saul" Anuzis is a Republican Party leader from the U.S. State of Michigan, he is currently serving as national chairman for the Save American Jobs Project on the American Solutions team...
. Posthumus was the longest serving majority leader in the history of the Senate.
Posthumus joined Engler on as his running mate and candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998 and went on to serve in that post for four years. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2002, having defeated Joe Schwarz
Joe Schwarz
John J. H. "Joe" Schwarz, M.D. , an independent politician from Michigan, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004 as a moderate Republican...
in the Republican primary, but lost to Democrat 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 the general election. He joined Compatico in 2005 and became the chief executive officer in 2006.
On 8 November 2010, Governor-Elect Rick Snyder named Posthumus to be his senior adviser and legislative lobbyist.
Posthumus married Pam Bartz in 1972. They have four children and four grandchildren. Pam died of cancer on 18 August 2010.
Title
As a former lieutenant governor and member of the Senate, Posthumus is afforded the courtesy titleCourtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life.
Electoral history
- 2002 election for Governor
- Jennifer GranholmJennifer GranholmJennifer 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...
(D), 51% - Dick Posthumus (R), 47%
- Jennifer Granholm
- 2002 election for Governor – Republican Primary
- Dick Posthumus (R), 81%
- Joe SchwarzJoe SchwarzJohn J. H. "Joe" Schwarz, M.D. , an independent politician from Michigan, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004 as a moderate Republican...
(R), 19%