Curtis Hertel Jr. Takes Office as Michigan’s State Senator of District 23

 

State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr., Democrat, has had a long history with legislation and on January 14, 2015, he was officially sworn into office as the 23rd District State Senator. He said his job is to move Michigan forward in a direction that brings about economic, social and political change; he would also work hard to transform Michigan from a struggling economy into a flourishing state. He added that his goal is to work for the community and be the voice for his constituents. He was recently chosen as the Minority Whip and Chairperson for the Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee. 

 

“My job is to be almost like an ombudsman for the people in my district, so when they have issues dealing with the state government they can’t get solved, my office is here to help people in that regard,” said Hertel .

 

With a struggling economy, and high unemployment rates, Michigan ranks as one of the worst hit states of the financial crisis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan’s unemployment rate in 2014 was 6.7 percent. That is more than double other states such as Nebraska and North Dakota. 

 

“We’ve disinvested in infrastructure. We’ve disinvested from education and higher education. We need to make sure we make those investments. It’s not just about those people that are constituents now, but the younger generation coming up,” said Hertel. 

 

The young people in Michigan do have a lot to worry about. In addition to the high unemployment in Michigan, this state is also struggling with crime rates that are well above the national average. According to Forbes, in 2012, Detroit was still the most violent city in America for the 4th year in a row. Violent crimes in Detroit fell 10 percent, but were still 5 times the national average. 

 

Perhaps this can be equated to the large amount of foreclosures faced by Michigan’s homeowners. According to CNN Money, in 2007, Detroit topped the list of cities with foreclosures with nearly 5 percent of its households in foreclosure. However, the foreclosure problem was not just plaguing Detroit. All of Michigan was hit by the foreclosure crisis, including Ingham County explains Hertel. 

 

“In Ingham County for example in a good year between 4 and 5 hundred people lost their homes to foreclosure. When I took office the number had jumped from 15 to 18 hundred. So we got to work actually fighting to protect people and keep people in their homes,” said Hertel.

 

Hertel said the issue of foreclosure was not all the homeowners fault. There were many instances of bank fraud, such as the banks using illegal documents to push people out of their homes. Individual cases were looked at to determine if there were instances of fraud. 

 

“The problem is that in Michigan the laws are completely stacked against the homeowners. There’s no due process in our system that protects citizens… We need to change that and I’m committed to fighting to change that here in the legislature,” said Hertel. 

 

In 2011, Hertel fought hard to keep homeowners in their homes. He brought a number of lawsuits against banks, foreclosure firms and attorneys. Because of his efforts, an attorney in Ingham County was hired to fight individual cases of wrongful foreclosure acts. In addition, a hotline where concerned homeowners could get more information was created. To further educate homeowners on this issue, 12 community forums across the county were also held.

 

Hertel said he has always felt working in legislature was his calling. He grew up in the state capital. His father was a co-speaker for the Michigan House of Representatives and was a long time state representative. 

 

Hertel has had a long history working in government. He worked as the Constituent Relations Director for the House Democratic Caucus. He worked for the Michigan Department of Community Health. While with the department, he served as the department’s Legislative Liaison. In his role with the department, he was the lead on several packages including former Governor Jennifer Granholm’s  Michigan Lead Safe Partnership, the Michigan Workforce Background Check legislation and the Child Restraint (“Booster Seat”) Law. 

 

Hertel also served as an Ingham County Commissioner from 2001-2008. During his time as commissioner, he focused on expanding access to healthcare in the community through the Ingham County Health Plan. He has worked to improve the quality of housing in Ingham County through the Land Bank Authority, and also passed the Living Wage in Ingham. As a commissioner, he served as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Human Services Committee. 

 

Hertel says there is still a lot of work to be done to get Michigan back on the right track. Reinvestment in terms of jobs and education are the mainstays if Michigan is ever to recover. 

 

“Right now we are losing college graduates every year to our surrounding states and part of that’s because we have not invested properly in Michigan.  We’ve cut money from education; we don’t have investment in our infrastructure. No one wants to live in a crumbling [state],” said Hertel. 

 

According to Hertel, Michigan is also behind times in terms of social issues. As the rest of the country becomes proactive on issues such as gay marriage, and gay, lesbian and transgender rights, Michigan is still slow to react. The senator agrees that some of the investments will cost money however; some of it is simply doing what is right. 

 

“If you look at polling a clear majority of young people believe that we are all equal. But Michigan laws still allow for and promote, I believe, discrimination. So I don’t think people want to live in a state where their friends and neighbors and even themselves are being discriminated against, and we need to change that if we want to keep the best talent here,” said Hertel. 

 

Michigan’s economy is recovering, but slowly said Hertel. The next legislation will decide what direction Michigan is headed in. Either Michigan will change its investment and social policies, or continue to be one of the worst states to live in in terms of young people retention he informed. 

 

Michigan has had some improvement. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, Michigan has had the 4th highest private sector job growth from 2010 to 2012. This is due to the recovery of the national economy, stronger auto sales and a rebound in the housing market. The article projected a 7 year recovery through 2016; however, this will only replenish slightly more than half the jobs lost between 2000 and 2010.

 

There is a chance for voters to get Michigan back on the right track during the special election that will be held on May 5, 2015, informed Hertel. This election will determine if Michigan will invest in roads and secure money for education.  The election is regarding a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the state sales tax from 6 to 7 percent. This bill has passed in both the House and Senate and is now in the hands of the voters. 

 

The last election was disappointing in many regards said Hertel. A turn around in voter trends is needed if Michigan is going to get on the path to recovery. 

 

“Obviously I don’t agree with a lot of their choices in the last election,” said Hertel. “I disagree with their decisions to stay home in the last election. But we as a Michigan Democratic party, we as senators need to give people a reason to vote as well.”

 

Hertel said he is ready to take on his role as senator, which is much different, than that of the Register of Deeds in terms of policy work. His only focus as Register of Deeds was on specific property issues, now as senator he will be dealing with a vast array of issues. 

 

“I think the place where it is similar is in the constituent work. We changed the Register of Deeds office from being just about property recording and keeping the land library, to a force to fight for people. I think the senate office can be used in the same way and I plan on doing that,” said Hertel. 

 

Ingham County was looking for a new Register of Deeds. A meeting to set course toward a replacement took place on January 6, 2015. Chief Probate Judge Richard Garcia, Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III, and Clerk Barb Byrum discussed ways to fill the position; Hertel had some words of advice for Derrick Quinney, who was selected on February 4, 2015. 

 

“I hope my replacement will see what we did with the office and will continue using it as a place to fight for people,” Hertel said. “I also think that we have a good staff there and I hope they’ll realize that you don’t haft to micro-manage the staff, that’s it’s important that you give staff the ability to get the job done.”

 

Hertel also said it is significant that his replacement realize how important their role is. In this capitalist society, property land records are essential. It is what allows for commerce to happen, so the position should be respected. 

 

Hertel said he would like to give a special thanks to his family. He would like to thank his wife Elizabeth and their 4 children for all of their hard work. He would also like to thank his extended family and his constituents for putting their faith in him. Hertel said over 50,000 doors were knocked and countless hands were shook as he made his bid for the senate. 

 

“They put up with a lot during the campaign. There were a lot of late nights,” said Hertel. 

 

This was not the first time Hertel had to exude hard work and determination to win an election. He started his career in legislation when he was in his early 20’s. Not giving up and knowing that his efforts will pay off, is how he secured his first win. There were a lot of people who thought he had no chance against the Republican incumbent, but that was not the case he chimed. 

 

“The most important thing when running for office is a commitment to the people; knocking doors, shaking hands, meeting people, looking them in the eye, telling them why they would want to vote for you. At 22 what business did I have running for county commissioner? But I knocked every door in the district 3 times,” said Hertel. 

 

Hertel said he does not make political plans for the future. He never plans for what is next. He added that if he works hard and keep the people first opportunities will come. 

 

Hertel had an open house at the Farnum building, located at 125 W. Allegan Street in Lansing, to celebrate his swearing in. He said the event was open to the public as it is their office, he was just borrowing it. 

 

To contact Hertel, call his office at 517-373-1734 or stop by 125 West Allegan Street in Lansing, MI, Room 315. 

 

February 4, 2015 update from Senator Hertel: “Governor Rick Snyder has just announced he will not appeal the ruling that declared the 300 same sex marriages performed in Michigan legal. I am extremely happy for the couples whose marriage and commitment will finally be honored by the State of Michigan. This in no way means our work is done. We must continue to fight to end discrimination in our state. But today I am happy for small victories and for the families whose commitment and love is finally being recognized.”

 

This article was printed in the February 8, 2015 – February 21, 2015.