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Stacy Erwin Oakes

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Stacy Erwin Oakes
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 95th district
In office
November 10, 2010 – December 31, 2014
Preceded byAndy Coulouris
Succeeded byVanessa Guerra
Personal details
Born (1973-05-19) May 19, 1973 (age 51)
Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materMichigan State University College of Law, Ferris State University
ProfessionReal Estate Developer, Attorney
CommitteesAgriculture, Judiciary, Transportation, Michigan Legislative Council
Signature
Websiterepstacyerwinoakes.com/Stacy_Erwin_Oakes (Campaign Website)
House of Representatives Website

Stacy Erwin Oakes (born May 19, 1973) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. She has been a Democratic Party member of the Michigan House of Representatives and Minority Whip[1] representing Michigan's 95th District (map), located in Saginaw County, which includes the cities of Saginaw and Zilwaukee, in addition to the following townships: Bridgeport Township, Buena Vista Township, Carrollton Township, James Township, Kochville Township, Spaulding Township, and Zilwaukee Township.[2]

Educational background

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A product of the Saginaw Public School District, Oakes attended Houghton Elementary, Arthur Eddy Junior High, and Saginaw High School where she graduated from in 1991. She obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and later earned her teaching certification while working as a corrections officer at the Saginaw Correctional Facility.[3]

Oakes earned her Juris Doctor degree from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University while working for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. While at MSU, she was an instructor for the Rental Housing Clinic.[4]

Professional background

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After obtaining her teaching certificate, she accepted a position with the Saginaw Public School system and taught at Central Middle and Saginaw High schools while coaching girls' basketball.

Upon her graduation from law school, Oakes accepted a position with the Michigan House of Representatives as a policy analyst. She was later appointed to the Michigan Attorney General's office, serving under both Jennifer Granholm and Mike Cox. As an assistant attorney general, she prosecuted and defended cases throughout the state of Michigan.[3] In February 2010, Oakes was appointed to the MSU College of Law Board of Trustees.[5] Oakes served as lead developer of Erwin Properties, LLC, which developed Erwin Senior Estates in Buena Vista Township.[6] In 2019, Oakes was removed as general partner of the development.

Political career

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Oakes was elected as State Representative for the 95th District in a November 2010 special election to fill the remainder of the term for the seat vacated by Andy Coulouris. Under Michigan's legislative term limits, Coulouris was eligible for one additional term as a State Representative. As opposed to running for reelection in 2010, Coulouris instead announced that he would not seek a third term.[7]

With the departure of Oakes' predecessor and her subsequent election to the Michigan House of Representatives, she served in the legislature for the lame duck session of 2010. In that election, she won a full term of her own which began in January 2011.[8]

In December 2011, Oakes appeared as a guest on Off the Record (WKAR TV series), a weekly, political talk program broadcast statewide on PBS member stations throughout Michigan. Off The Record is hosted by Michigan's senior capitol correspondent, Tim Skubick. The topic of discussion included Michigan's Medical Marijuana law and Oakes' future political ambitions.[9]

Oakes sits on the House Agricultural Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. In addition, she also sits on the Michigan Legislative Council. She ran for a second term as State Representative for the 95th district in the November 2012 general election. In August 2012, Oakes was appointed to fill a vacancy on the House Transportation Committee.[10]

In February 2012, it was announced that Rep. Oakes would be a member of Obama for America's Truth Team. The Truth Team intends to secure grassroots and online supporters to promote President Barack Obama’s presidential achievements while holding Republicans accountable.[11]

On November 6, 2012, Rep. Oakes was reelected to a second term, defeating her opponent with 77.53% of the vote.[12]

Oakes ran unsuccessfully for Michigan's 32nd district Senate seat in 2014, but was soundly defeated by now-Senator Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth).[13]

Post political career

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Oakes was appointed by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver as the city of Flint's chief legal officer in April 2016. In accepting the job, she said that playing a crucial role in the Flint saga was important for her because everything else depends on how she and her team approach the legal challenges ahead.[14] Mayor Weaver praised Oakes for her abilities: "Stacy is held in high regard by the legal community.[15] In a statement on January 3, 2017, Mayor Weaver's office confirmed that the city had "parted ways" with City Attorney Oakes but did not provide any additional details.[15] According to her termination letter, Weaver questioned Oakes leadership and her ability to lead the department: "The effectiveness of your management and oversight of the City of Flint's Legal Department is questionable and I lack confidence in your leadership.[16]" It was reported on April 3, 2017 that Oakes had filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against Weaver and the city of Flint, alleging she was dismissed for objecting to "fraudulent legal documents" and other illegal acts.[17]

Personal life

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Representative Oakes is the daughter of James and Maggie Erwin. She is the youngest girl of six sisters and six brothers. Oakes and her husband, attorney Michael Oakes, have two children, Michael II and Kingston. They worship at New Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Saginaw.

Awards and other honors

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- 2012 Ruby Award[18]

Electoral history

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Michigan House of Representatives special election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stacy Erwin Oakes 13,775 72% −
Republican Sarge Harvey III 5,421 28% −
Majority
Turnout 19,196 100% −
Democratic hold Swing No
Michigan House of Representatives general election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stacy Erwin Oakes 13,855 72% −
Republican Sarge Harvey III 5,577 28% −
Majority
Turnout 19,432 100% −
Democratic hold Swing No
Michigan House of Representatives general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stacy Erwin Oakes 27,778 77.53% −
Republican Jeff Baker 7,859 21.93% −
Majority
Turnout 35,831 100% −
Democratic hold Swing No

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Saginaw's Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes named minority whip in Michigan House Democratic Caucus". December 2012.
  2. ^ "95th District Map, 2011 Legislative Redistricting" (PDF). Michigan House of Representatives. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  3. ^ a b Staff. "Profile". Campaign Website. Stacy Erwin Oakes. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  4. ^ Staff. "Board of Trustees: Stacy L. Erwin Oakes, '01". Michigan State University College of Law. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  5. ^ Parker, Kristen (February 15, 2010). "Stacy Erwin Oakes appointed to MSU College of Law Board of Trustees" (Press release). Michigan State University. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  6. ^ Engel, Justin L. (November 3, 2010). "Erwin Oakes earns state House 95th District seat". The Saginaw News. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  7. ^ Barber, Barrie (November 3, 2010). "Coulouris will skip re-election and won't campaign to become next Speaker of the House". The Saginaw News. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  8. ^ Staff. "Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes's Bio". 95th District. Michigan House of Representatives. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  9. ^ Skubick, Tim (December 16, 2012). "Weekly Edition 4125". Off The Record. WKAR-TV. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  10. ^ Tower, Mark (August 16, 2012). "State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes appointed to House Committee on Transportation". The Saginaw News. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  11. ^ Burns, Gus (February 13, 2012). "Michigan Truth Team forms to promote Pres. Barack Obama's achievements, 'hold Republicans accountable'". The Saginaw News. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  12. ^ Devereaux, Brad (November 6, 2012). "Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes declares victory in 95th district seat race". The Saginaw News. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  13. ^ "Horn trumps Oakes to become state senator of Saginaw, Genesee county communities". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  14. ^ "Bankole: Protecting Flint is lawyer's priority". Detroit News. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  15. ^ a b "Flint parts ways with city attorney Stacy Erwin Oakes". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  16. ^ "Flint mayor questioned Stacy Erwin Oakes' leadership as city attorney". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  17. ^ "Fired Flint attorney files whistleblower suit against Mayor Weaver". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  18. ^ Sajdak Manning, Nancy (February 2012). The 2012 RUBY Award Winners. Great Lakes Bay Regional Lifestyle Magazine.
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Michigan House of Representatives
Preceded by Michigan State Representative, 95th District
2010-Present 		Succeeded by
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