Mary Valentine
Encyclopedia
Mary Valentine is a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. She is a Democrat and former member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
. She represented the 91st State House District, which includes most of Muskegon County
, except for the city of Muskegon
and surrounding areas. It also includes a small portion of Ottawa County
. In 2010 she ran for the state senate, but was defeated in a landslide by her Republican opponent.
and grew up in Bay City
. She received a Bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University
in speech therapy and a Master's degree from Northern Michigan University
in education. She spent over thirty years working as a Speech Pathologist in the Muskegon area Public Schools until retiring in 2006 to run for the State House.
. Farhat was a two-term incumbent who had faced tough elections in the past. The 91st district is a mostly urban district and is one of the most competitive in the State. Valentine won the election by a margin of 56-44 to gain her first elective office. In the house, she is the vice-chair of the Education Committee. She also serves on the Commerce, Great Lakes and Environment, Health Policy, and Retiree Health Care Reforms Committees.
In 2010 she was a candidate for the open 34th State Senate seat, which was being vacated by Republican Gerald VanWoerkom. Because of this, Valentine did not seek a third term in the State House of Representatives. She went on to lose the state senate election in a landslide and her house seat fell to the Republicans as well.
with her husband Phil, to whom she has been married for 28 years. She has two children Robin and Shawn Valentine. She is involved with her church and has taught Sunday School for the past 16 years.
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 is a Democrat and 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...
. She represented the 91st State House District, which includes most of Muskegon County
Muskegon County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 170,200 people, 63,330 households, and 44,267 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 68,556 housing units at an average density of 135 per square mile...
, except for the city of Muskegon
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
and surrounding areas. It also includes a small portion of Ottawa County
Ottawa County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
. In 2010 she ran for the state senate, but was defeated in a landslide by her Republican opponent.
Early life
Mary Valentine was born in FlintFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
and grew up in Bay City
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
. She received a Bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in speech therapy and a Master's degree from Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
in education. She spent over thirty years working as a Speech Pathologist in the Muskegon area Public Schools until retiring in 2006 to run for the State House.
Political career
Valentine officially started her campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives in June 2006. She was unopposed in the Democratic Party primary election. In the general election, she faced incumbent Representative David FarhatDavid Farhat
David Farhat is a Liberian politician and member of the Free Democratic Party .Running as the FDP presidential candidate in the 11 October 2005 elections, Farhat placed 16th out of 22 candidates, receiving 0.5% of the vote. He is a former Finance Minister of Liberia.-References:...
. Farhat was a two-term incumbent who had faced tough elections in the past. The 91st district is a mostly urban district and is one of the most competitive in the State. Valentine won the election by a margin of 56-44 to gain her first elective office. In the house, she is the vice-chair of the Education Committee. She also serves on the Commerce, Great Lakes and Environment, Health Policy, and Retiree Health Care Reforms Committees.
In 2010 she was a candidate for the open 34th State Senate seat, which was being vacated by Republican Gerald VanWoerkom. Because of this, Valentine did not seek a third term in the State House of Representatives. She went on to lose the state senate election in a landslide and her house seat fell to the Republicans as well.
Personal
Valentine lives in Norton ShoresNorton Shores, Michigan
Norton Shores is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,527 at the 2000 census.-Overview:Norton Shores is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Muskegon County...
with her husband Phil, to whom she has been married for 28 years. She has two children Robin and Shawn Valentine. She is involved with her church and has taught Sunday School for the past 16 years.