Local lawmaker to lead House Dems' Caucus in 13-14

In less than a year, Tim Greimel has gone from being an Oakland County commissioner to holding the top leadership position in the state House of Representatives Democratic Caucus.

Greimel, an Auburn Hills Democrat whose new House district includes the west Oakland County community of Orchard Lake Village, secured his party’s support to become the next state House Minority Leader last week following the Tuesday, Nov. 6 general election. He was elected to the lower legislative chamber in February after the resignation of former state representative Tim Melton, who left to take a job in California.

“My pledge to the families, seniors and students of Michigan is to work tirelessly on their behalf by fighting for policies that will help them and move our state forward,” Greimel stated in a press release. “I know that people around the state have been struggling under the weight of tax increases, our schools have been devastated by funding cuts, and our small business owners are fighting for survival. House Democrats are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work for them. I’m grateful for the support of the House Democratic Caucus, and I look forward to working with them to communicate the Democratic message and move Michigan in the right direction.”

Greimel, a labor, employment and civil rights attorney, was elected to the county Board of Commissioners in 2006.

No members of the lakes area’s Republican delegation to the House — state Reps. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake, Highland); Gail Haines (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield); and Hugh Crawford (R-Walled Lake, Wixom); and state Reps.-elect Klint Kesto and Michael McCready, both Republicans — were tapped for leadership positions among the House GOP caucus.

Kesto’s 39th state House District, redrawn following the release of 2010 U.S. Census data, will represent Commerce Township, Wolverine Lake, and the western portion of West Bloomfield. McCready’s 40th state House District will represent the eastern portion of West Bloomfield Township in the lakes area.

The state House will stay under control of the GOP, 59-51, the second straight legislative session Republicans have held the gavel in the state’s lower legislative chamber after wrenching control from Democrats in the 2010 mid-term elections.

State representatives serve two-year terms and are currently paid $71,685 per year.