Connie
Berube Binsfeld
Former Lieutenant Governor
Connie Berube Binsfeld is a native of Munising, Michigan, born April 18,
1924.
She is the first woman in Michigan history to hold leadership positions in the House, Senate, and Executive Office.
Binsfeld served in the House of Representatives 104th District from 1974-1982, in the
Michigan State Senate 36th District from 1982-1990, and as Lieutenant Governor from 1990-1998.
She was one of Michigan's
delegates to the Republican National
Convention from Michigan in 1988,
and was a candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan in
1992.
In 1978, Binsfeld introduced the state's first domestic violence
legislation. She was the key figure in rewriting the state's
Juvenile Code, requested the creation of a Special Commission on Adoption
and introduced the nation's first bill successfully banning commercial
surrogacy.
As State
Senator, Connie Binsfeld introduced and was responsible for a package of
bills targeting various aspects of domestic assault, ranging from training
police to handle domestic assault situations to improving techniques for
gathering information and statistics for domestic assault cases such as the State Domestic Violence Act (1978), the Quality of
Life Bonding Bill (1983), and the Binsfeld Commission on Adoption
(1991-1992). Binsfeld is a member of the League of
Women Voters.
Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld wrapped up
her 24-year career as a lawmaker and Lieutenant Governor in December, 1998, but
her work on behalf of children continues. During her career she distinguished herself as a leading advocate on behalf of children, family
life and women as well as the natural environment. She currently resides in
Maple City, Leelanau County, Michigan. |