An Ann Arbor woman has thrown her hat into the ring for one of the newly redrawn districts that will represent a portion of Livingston County.
Jennifer Conlin on Friday announced her candidacy for State Representative for the new 48th State House district, which includes parts of Jackson, Livingston and Washtenaw counties.
According to a press release, Conlin, who describes herself as a lifelong Democrat, says she was a global journalist who returned to her hometown of Ann Arbor 12 years ago, and has since written about “small business, tourism, healthcare, arts and culture, and economic development in Michigan, predominantly for The New York Times and, most recently, for Hour Detroit.”
In addition to her writing, Conlin says she has been involved in promoting educational opportunities, including creating a citizen arts journalism project in Detroit and Southeast Michigan; chairing the board of Greenhills School, which her family helped found in 1967; and working to expand the reach of high school ethics competitions.
“Michigan has been good to me and my family. We are privileged to live in a fascinating and vibrant state, which is reflected in the diversity of this new district,” says Conlin. “I believe my profession has uniquely prepared me to be a state legislator. I know how to listen, dig deep into subjects, and identify the heart of an issue. Now, I don’t just want to chronicle the challenges facing Michiganders, I want to help address them.”
Conlin, a graduate of the University of Michigan, says her family has long lived in Washtenaw County and consists of both Democrats and Republicans as well as a number have served in local, county, and state government.
“I want to cut through the divisiveness,” said Conlin, “and find practical solutions to the pressing issues we all confront – quality education, job creation, access to affordable healthcare, and protecting the rights of all Michiganders.”
Conlin is the only Democrat to have filed for the August primary. There are two Republicans also in the race; Hamburg Township Treasurer Jason Negri and Jason Woolford of Howell, who is President of Fowlerville-based Mission City.
In Livingston County, the 48th District includes Hamburg and Genoa townships and a portion of Putnam Township.
It also includes the northern tier of Washtenaw County dipping down into Ann Arbor and a northeast section of Jackson County.
