Sander M. Levin

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Sander Levin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1983
Preceded by	William Brodhead
Born	September 6, 1931 (1931-09-06) (age 77) Detroit, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Vicki Levin (deceased)
Residence	Royal Oak, Michigan
Alma mater	University of Chicago, Columbia University, Harvard University
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Jewish

Sander Martin Levin, sometimes known as Sandy Levin, (born September 6, 1931) is a Democratic U.S. Representative from the 12th Congressional District (map) in Michigan, having served since 1983. The district, numbered as the 17th District until 1993, includes most of Detroit's northeastern suburbs, such as Mount Clemens, Southfield, Warren, Sterling Heights, Eastpointe and St. Clair Shores. He is the older brother of Senator Carl Levin.

Levin was born in Detroit. He graduated from Central High School in Detroit, received a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1952, a Master's degree in international relations from Columbia University in 1954, and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1957.

After developing a private law practice, Levin served in the Michigan Senate from 1965–1970, and was Senate Minority Leader 1969–1970. He made unsuccessful campaigns for Governor of Michigan in 1970 and 1974, and was a Fellow of the Kennedy School of Politics at Harvard University in 1975. He was assistant administrator of the Agency for International Development, 1977–1981.

In 1982, 18th District Congressman Jim Blanchard didn't run for a fifth term, instead making a successful run for governor. Levin won the Democratic primary in the district, which was renumbered the 17th as a result of redistricting (it was renumbered the 12th in 1993, as mentioned above). He was handily elected in November and has been reelected 12 times. He has only faced serious Republican opposition four times. In 1992 and 1994, Levin barely managed to defeat businessman and Vietnam War veteran John Pappageorge, who now serves in the state senate. He had an easier time against Pappageorge in 1996. In 2000, businessman Bart Baron gained the endorsement of the United Auto Workers, but Levin managed to win 64 percent of the vote.

Levin won a 13th term in 2008 with 72 percent of the vote. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee; since 2007 he has been the chairman of the Trade subcommittee. He also serves on the Human Resources subcommittee.

His wife Vicki died on September 3, 2008. They had four children, Jennifer, Andrew, Madeline, and Matthew, and seven grandchildren together.

Levin comes from a family that has long been prominent in Michigan politics. His younger brother Carl Levin is currently the Senior United States Senator. His uncle, Theodore, was a federal judge. His first cousin, Charles was a Michigan Supreme Court justice, after serving as a Michigan Court of Appeals judge. His first cousin, Joseph Levin, was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. His son, Andy, was the 2006 Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate in the 13th Senate District, losing in a tight race to John Pappageorge.[1].

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Trade (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Sandy Levin official U.S. House site
• Sander Levin for Congress official campaign site
• Sander M. Levin at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Mr Sander M Levin campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Sander Levin issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Sander Levin campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Sander M. Levin (MI) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Sandy Levin profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Sander Levin voting record
• Michigan Democratic Party
• Michigan Liberal's 12th Congressional District section