Jennifer Conlin

Jennifer Conlin was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan.[1] She graduated from Greenhills School.[2] Conlin earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan in 1983 and an M.A. from Northwestern University in 1984. Her career experience includes working as a freelance journalist, editor, and media consultant.[3]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jennifer Conlin and I am currently serving my first term as State Representative in Michigan’s House District 48.

As a wife, mother, daughter, and caregiver to my 90-year-old mother, I am committed to finding solutions to better the daily lives of Michiganders, particularly around education, health care, the environment, and transportation. Though I was raised in Ann Arbor, my family has long lived all over Washtenaw County going back seven generations. I also have a number of relatives who have served in city, county, and state government. I am honored to carry on their legacy and give back to my home state, where I attended college, and where I have lived for the past 14 years since moving back after living abroad as a journalist for two consecutive decades.

As State Representative, I have worked tirelessly on legislation that directly benefits my district and home state. This includes safeguarding reproductive rights, passing gun safety laws, working to protect the environment, and introducing two bills that would lower the cost of insulin in Michigan. I also believe in working across the aisle as someone representing a swing district on important nonpartisan infrastructure issues such as clean drinking water, affordable housing and increasing public transportation.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I know how to listen and respect viewpoints that are different from my own. To that end, I have worked on a bipartisan bill package as chair of the House Committee on Military, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. And as the only Democratic state representative in Livingston County, I work well with my Republican colleagues in the county from the township supervisors to the county commissioners.I believe in working on legislation that truly betters the lives of my constituents. In my first 18 months in office I have:

- Quintupled the Working Families Tax Credit to put money back in the pockets of our families

- Restored workers' rights by repealing the "right to work" law and reinstating prevailing wage laws

- Sponsored the Michigan Family Protection Act which gives legal protection to children born through surrogacy

- Passed a bill to provide free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students

- Increased funding for housing veterans

- Expanded the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Program

- Got $5 million in funding for Freedom River, a full-service outdoor recreation center for veterans and their familiesMy priorities moving forward include:

-Increasing funding for public transit

-Finding solutions to PFAS contamination in our lakes and farms

-Lowering the cost of prescription drugs

-Supporting small businesses and farmers

-Investing in affordable housing

-Retaining and mentoring teachers

-Investing in school safety and mental health initiatives

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a daughter taking care of an aging parent, a mother to young daughters of reproductive age, and a resident of Washtenaw County, I care deeply about elder care, reproductive rights, and taking care of our beautiful lakes and natural/recreation areas. I believe that we can make Michigan a place that caters to all of its citizens both young and old, and that we can continue to nurture the things that already make Michigan such a wonderful place to live.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I admire a number of women but, in particular, Eleanor Roosevelt for her work with the United Nations and her role in supporting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She set a new norm for what First Ladies can do in office and the affect they can have on the country and world in that position.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I saw the documentary "Pelosi in the House" about Nancy Pelosi and felt very inspired by her leadership and bipartisanship. Not only is she brilliant at pulling the caucus together, she can also effectively whip votes to accomplish something, even when she needed votes on the other side of the aisle. I also appreciate her lifetime of public service and her ability as a wife, daughter, mother, and now grandmother to succeed in both her public and private life.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Someone who is able to represent ALL constituents regardless of party affiliations. Someone who can respect both sides in order to get things done and who can work across party lines to pass legislation that is maximally beneficial to those they represent and to all Michiganders.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My integrity, my compassion, my strong work ethic, and my curiosity have served me well in this office. I care deeply about my constituents (including those who did not vote for me), and I strive always to find the best solutions to problems facing my district and my state.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To listen to the concerns of their constituents, to find innovative ways to address those concerns, and to work to ensure that those solutions have the greatest positive impact they can.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember John F. Kennedy getting shot and my parents being glued to the television in tears.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked at a summer camp as a counselor for two summers. It was a camp I had attended so it was particularly fun to be in charge of campers there in my late teens.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor and state legislature should be partners in negotiating budget priorities, as well as enacting desirable legislation.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Environmental issues, from water quality to climate change, will be a great challenge over the next decade. Michigan's executive and legislative branches have been working hard over the past several years to address some of our most serious concerns.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I came into politics from a journalism career with no previous experience in politics. My work as a journalist was very beneficial to stepping into the role of state representative because to be an effective journalist you need to be able to listen to multiple perspectives and to learn quickly when reporting on a new subject in which you have little background . Now that I have served as a state rep. for two years, I have had the opportunity to meet many of my constituents and to work with my fellow representatives, and have built a deep understanding of issues my district faces such as PFAS contamination, affordable housing shortages, and rising healthcare costs. My ability to absorb information from multiple stakeholders quickly has helped me to navigate this role and to work across party lines in order to ensure that we make progress for our priorities. I can now say that I am a seasoned state rep. with a track record of getting things done for Michigan and for District 48.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I think it is very important to build relationships with other legislators, including legislators across the political aisle. While we may disagree about the best way to move forward, one thing we have in common is the desire to serve our constituents and our state. If we can keep that common goal in mind, we can pass more legislation that benefits the most people in our great state.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I personally knew Gov. Bill Milliken as a child growing up in Michigan and always admired his moderate views, ability to work across the aisle, and his community engagement when it came to helping the youth in our state succeed.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I remember one woman suffering from breast cancer telling me that other women she knew with the same disease could not undergo treatment as it would mean they would miss too much work, lose their job, and then lose their health insurance. So they went without life saving treatment. She cried as she told me that story.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

Having already been elected to a first term in the state legislature, one of the first bills I introduced (and that was later passed into law) allows National Guard members' spouses and dependents to use tuition assistance funds.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have been endorsed by

- Michigan Nurses Association

- EMILY's List

- Michigan Democratic Party Veterans Caucus

- MEA

- IBEW

- AFSCME

- LiUNA

- Michigan League of Conservation Voters

- Planned Parenthood

- SEIU

- United Steelworkers

- UAW

- MPFFU (Firefighters)

- Climate Cabinet

-Country Road Association of Michigan

What committees interest you?

I am the chair of the House Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee. I believe that taking care of our veterans is one of the core priorities of holding office. I also sit on the Education, Agriculture, Transportation and Health Policy committees. I care deeply about all the issues we deal with on these committees.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and government accountability are crucial components of democratic governance. Elected officials should be required to disclose certain aspects of their finances, and policies should be enacted that prevent conflicts of interest and other ethically questionable practices within government and the electoral process.

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