Bill Schuette

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Bill Schuette
BillSchuette2011Inauguration crop.jpg
53rd Attorney General of Michigan
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Governor Rick Snyder
Preceded by Mike Cox
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 35th district
In office
January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2002
Preceded by Joanne Emmons
Succeeded by Michelle McManus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 10th district
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1991
Preceded by Donald Albosta
Succeeded by Dave Camp
Personal details
Born William Duncan Schuette
(1953-10-08) October 8, 1953 (age 63)
Midland, Michigan, U.S.
Political party Republican
Education Georgetown University (BA)
University of San Francisco (JD)
Website Government website

William Duncan "Bill" Schuette (/ˈʃuːtiː/ SHOO-tee;[1] born October 13, 1953) is an American Republican politician and the Attorney General of Michigan.[2]

Early life[edit]

Schuette was born in Midland, Michigan, where he graduated from Herbert Henry Dow High School in 1972. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and in 1976 graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Foreign Service. He also studied at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and received a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1979. Schuette was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1981.[3]

2010 election[edit]

Schuette was elected Attorney General in 2010. Schuette received 53% of the vote to 41% for longtime Democratic prosecutor David Leyton.[4]

Political career[edit]

Schuette was a delegate to the Michigan Republican conventions in 1972, 1974, and 1982.

In November 1984, at the age of 31, Schuette defeated incumbent Democrat Donald J. Albosta for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 10th congressional district. Schuette was re-elected to the two succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1985 until January 3, 1991. He did not seek re-election in 1990, but unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Democrat Carl Levin for his seat in the United States Senate. While in Congress, Schuette served on the House Budget Committee, the House Agriculture Committee and the House Select Committee on Aging.

Schuette as a Congressman in 1985

In January 1991, Schuette was named by then-Governor John Engler as the director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, where he served until 1993. While director, Schuette and his wife Cynthia created the Michigan Harvest Gathering, a food and fund drive to help feed hungry people throughout the state.[citation needed] Joining with the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the Michigan Harvest Gathering has raised more than $4 million and 6 million pounds of food over a 12-year period.[citation needed]

In November 1994, he was elected to the Michigan Senate from the 35th District, where he served until 2003. In 2001, Schuette was selected by President George W. Bush to be his personal representative to Australian-American Friendship Week in Australia.

In November 2002, he was elected a judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals. His term expired January 1, 2009.

In 2008, Michigan voters considered a ballot initiative to establish a medical marijuana program for registered patients with qualifying conditions. Schuette served as a spokesperson for a group opposed to the proposed law.[5] After leaving the judiciary, Schuette worked for Warner, Norcross & Judd, one of Michigan's largest law firms[citation needed].

On November 2, 2010, Schuette won the election to become Michigan Attorney General.

In September 2011, petition language to recall Schuette was approved by Midland County authorities, allowing the circulating of recall petitions. Among the grievances cited are his attempts to undermine the medical marijuana law approved by voters in 2008.[6][7]

In 2011, Schuette filed suit to close two Michigan abortion clinics on grounds of improper record disposal.[8]

Before the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Schuette fought against same-sex marriage.[9]

On August 19, 2015, Schuette endorsed Jeb Bush for president.[10]

In December 2016, Schuette filed suit to try to stop a recount effort in Michigan requested by Green Party candidate Jill Stein.[11]

In January 2017, Schuette was admonished by Eastern District of United States of Michigan Judge David M. Lawson for attempting to file an amicus brief taking an opposite position than Schuette originally took. Judge Lawson said it injected a "troubling ethical issue into [the] lawsuit" and it suggested "superficial posturing" on behalf of Schuette. [12]

Gubernatorial ambitions[edit]

Schuette is widely believed to be planning to run for governor of Michigan.[13] In July 2016, before speaking on the opening day of the 2016 Republican National Convention Schuette changed the name of his fundraising committee from "Bill Schuette for Attorney General" to "Bill Schuette for Michigan." Despite being term-limited as Attorney General, Schuette had continued to raise funds[14] since his November 2014 re-election as Attorney General.

In December 2016, Schuette said he had not made up his mind on running for governor but would make a decision sometime in 2017.[15] This is backed up by reports of a falling out between the Attorney General and Governor Rick Snyder.[16]

Electoral history[edit]

Michigan's 10th Congressional District election, 1984[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bill Schuette 104,950 50.1 +11.2
Democratic Don Albosta (I) 103,636 49.4 -10.7
Libertarian Bill Leef 1,054 0.5 +0.5
Majority 1,314 0.7 -20.5
Turnout 209,645 +23.5
Swing to Republican from Democratic Swing
Michigan's 10th Congressional District election, 1986[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bill Schuette (I) 78,475 51.1 +1.0
Democratic Don Albosta 74,941 48.8 -0.6
Write-In Write-in 8 0.005 N/A
Majority 3,534 2.3 +1.7
Turnout 153,424 -26.8
Republican hold
Michigan's 10th Congressional District election, 1988[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bill Schuette (I) 152,646 72.7 +21.6
Democratic Mathias G. Forbes 74,941 26.4 -22.4
Libertarian Gary R. Bradley 1,812 0.9 +0.9
Other Other 7 0.003 N/A
Majority 77,705 46.3 +44.1
Turnout 209,863 +36.8
Republican hold
United States Senate election in Michigan, 1990[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Carl Levin (Incumbent) 1,471,753 57.4 +5.6
Republican Bill Schuette 1,055,695 41.2 -6.0
Workers World Susan Farquhar 32,796 1.3 +1.24
Majority 416,058 16.2 +11.6
Turnout 2,560,494 +36.8
Democratic hold
Michigan Senate 35th District election, 1998[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bill Schuette (I) 61,510 70.4 N/A
Democratic Brian Baldwin 25,900 29.6 N/A
Majority 35,610 40.8 N/A
Republican hold
Michigan attorney general election, 2010[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bill Schuette 1,649,223 52.59% -1.29%
Democratic David Leyton 1,363,486 43.48% -0.03%
Libertarian Daniel Grow 62,737 2.00% +0.33%
Taxpayers Gerald Van Sickle 60,778 1.94% +0.95%
Majority 285,737 9.11% -1.21%
Turnout 3,136,224 -0.15%
Republican hold
Michigan attorney general election, 2014[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bill Schuette (incumbent) 1,603,471 52.11% -0.48%
Democratic Mark Totten 1,359,839 44.19% +0.71%
Libertarian Justin Altman 57,345 1.86% -0.08%
Taxpayers Gerald Van Sickle 30,762 1.0% -0.94%
Green John La Pietra 25,747 0.84%
N/A
Majority 243,632 7.92% -1.19%
Turnout 3,077,164 -1.88%
Republican hold

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Washington Talk: Briefing; Names to Know". New York Times. 31 December 1987. Retrieved 17 January 2014. 
  2. ^ AG-elect Bill Schuette announces transition team - Chicago Tribune, 5 November 2010
  3. ^ "Bill Schuette—P32532 (active and in good standing)". State Bar of Michigan. Retrieved April 4, 2014. 
  4. ^ Michigan's, Official Website. "Biography of Attorney General". Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  5. ^ "Is marijuana good medicine?". the Detroit Free Press. 2008-10-25. 
  6. ^ http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/09/medical_marijuana_advocate_win.html
  7. ^ http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/08/medical_marijuana_advocate_fil.html
  8. ^ http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/11/attorney_general_bill_schuette_1.html
  9. ^ http://michiganradio.org/post/even-scotus-decision-fight-over-lgbt-rights-michigan-continues#stream/0
  10. ^ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/08/19/schuette-jeb-bush/31981731/
  11. ^ NOLAN D. MCCASKILL, December 2, 2016, Politico, Michigan attorney general files lawsuit to halt recount, Retrieved December 2, 2016, "...Michigan’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit to stop a recount of the presidential election results requested by Green Party nominee Jill Stein, ..."
  12. ^ DAVID LAT, January 26, 2017, Above the Law, [1], Retrieved January 26, 2017, "Federal Judge Benchslaps Attorney General For ‘Superficial Posturing"
  13. ^ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/16/ag-schuette-positioning-governors-race/87208202/
  14. ^ Chad Livengood (July 14, 2016). "Schuette inches toward possible run for governor". Detroit News. Retrieved December 11, 2016. 
  15. ^ Jule Mack (December 8, 2016). "Attorney General Bill Schuette says he'll decide in 2017 on gubernatorial run". MLive. Retrieved December 9, 2016. 
  16. ^ David Eggert (July 10, 2016). "Rick Snyder, Bill Schuette at odds over more than Flint water probe". Associated Press. Retrieved December 11, 2016. 
  17. ^ "Statistics of Congressional Elections of November 6, 1984" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. May 1, 1985. Retrieved December 12, 2016. 
  18. ^ "Statistics of Congressional Elections of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. May 29, 1987. Retrieved December 12, 2016. 
  19. ^ "Statistics of Congressional Elections of November 8, 1988" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. April 20, 1989. Retrieved December 12, 2016. 
  20. ^ Parker, Randy; Reporting for Duty (April 9, 2005). "Our Campaigns: MI U.S. Senate". Our Campaigns. 
  21. ^ "Statistics of Congressional Elections of November 8, 1988". Our Campaigns. December 14, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2016. 
  22. ^ "Election Results - General Election - November 2, 2010". Michigan Department of State. February 22, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016. 
  23. ^ "Election Results - General Election - November 4, 2014". Michigan Department of State. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014. 

External links[edit]

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Donald Albosta		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 10th congressional district
1985–1991		 Succeeded by
Dave Camp
Legal offices
Preceded by
Mike Cox		 Attorney General of Michigan
2011–present		 Incumbent
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