Curtis Hertel
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2023
Preceded byGretchen Whitmer
Succeeded byJim Runestad
Personal details
Born (1978-01-09) January 9, 1978
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseElizabeth Hertel
Children4
RelativesCurtis Hertel (father)
Kevin Hertel (brother)
Dennis Hertel (uncle)
John Hertel (uncle)
EducationMichigan State University (BA)

Curtis Hertel Jr. (born January 9, 1978) is an American politician who served as a state senator from 2015 to 2023, for the 23rd district in Michigan, representing the Greater Lansing Area.[1]

Hertel is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served two terms as the Ingham County Register of Deeds, and more recently served as Governor Gretchen Whitmer's top lobbyist.[2][3][4] He is a candidate for Michigan's 7th Congressional District in the 2024 election to succeed Elissa Slotkin.[5]

He is the son of Curtis Hertel, who was co-speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1993 to 1994. Hertel's brother, Kevin Hertel, was elected to the Michigan State Senate in November 2022.[6]

Education and early career

Hertel holds a bachelor's degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University, where he attended from 1996 to 2000.[7] Hertel served on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners from 2001 to 2008, representing the north half of East Lansing and Meridian Township. From 2005 to 2008, Hertel worked as a Legislative Liaison for the Department of Community Health under Governor Jennifer Granholm.[8]

Hertel was elected Ingham County Register of Deeds in 2008, and re-elected to a second term in 2012.[3] As Register of Deeds, Hertel filed a lawsuit against mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2011, seeking millions in unpaid taxes on property transfers in the county.[9] The outcome is still pending.

State senate

Hertel was elected to the Michigan State Senate in 2014, where he served as the Minority Whip and Chairperson for the Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee.[10] He served as senator for the 23rd district in Michigan, which represented the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, as well as the townships of Alaiedon Township, Michigan, Aurelius, Bunker Hill, Delhi, Ingham, Lansing, Leslie, Meridian, Onondaga, Vevay, Stockbridge, and White Oak.[1]

He introduced bills to offer tax credits to Michigan college graduates who elected to remain residents of the state after graduation.[11] He also introduced legislation to require discussions on affirmative consent in high school sex education classes.[12] In March 2016, he introduced a bill to put $3 million into the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund, which would give money to firefighters who develop cancer due to chemical exposure on the job.[13]

In November 2018, Hertel was re-elected to the 23rd district in the Michigan State Senate, where he served four more years.[14] Hertel served as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.[15]

Political career

Due to term limits, Hertel was ineligible for re-election in 2022. He joined the gubernatorial administration of Gretchen Whitmer as Whitmer's top lobbyist in the role of director of legislative affairs.[4] He announced his resignation from the Whitmer administration on June 30, 2023.[16] Less than a week after resigning from the Whitmer administration, where he had negotiated the state's $82 billion budget, Hertel took a role at the nonprofit Greater Flint Health Coalition, which was expected to benefit from the state budget in the form of a $1.5 million grant. Hertel denied that his involvement in the state budget included knowledge of the $1.5 million budget appropriation earmarked for the Greater Flint Health Coalition. According to The Detroit News, the arrangement "puts a spotlight on the close, behind-the-scenes relationships between groups seeking assistance from state government and officials in positions to provide it."[2]

On July 10, 2023, Hertel announced his candidacy for Michigan's 7th congressional district, currently held by Elissa Slotkin, who had already announced her candidacy for the US Senate.[5]

Personal life

His wife, Elizabeth Hertel, serves as Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services director.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Legislator Details - Curtis Hertel Jr". Library of Michigan. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Mauger, Craig (November 1, 2023). "Key House hopeful went from gov's office to well-connected nonprofit". www.detroitnews.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 Hinkley, Justin A. "Ingham County Dems cruise to Legislature". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Whitmer adds veteran Democratic lawmaker, former deputy AG to executive team". Detroit Free Press.
  5. 1 2 Vrabel, Brendan (July 10, 2023). "Curtis Hertel Jr. announces run for Congress". WILX-TV.
  6. ↑ "Klinefelt wins 11th Senate race; 12th contest close as Hertel claims victory". The Detroit News. November 8, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ Schuster, Simon (January 26, 2014). "Curtis Hertel Jr. sees little opposition in local Senate election". The State News. Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan).
  8. 1 2 "Hertel, Barrett face-off set in 7th". City Pulse. Lansing. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  9. ↑ Bell, Kay (June 23, 2011). "Banks sued for foreclosure taxes". Bankrate. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  10. ↑ Walker, Deborah M. (February 8, 2015). "Curtis Hertel Jr. Takes Office as Michigan's State Senator of District 23". The New Citizens Press.
  11. ↑ Feldscher, Kyle (January 29, 2015). "Michigan Democrats introduce bills to give tax credits to college graduates with student loan debt". MLive. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  12. ↑ "What would "Yes Means Yes" legislation mean for Michiganders in a romantic moment?". Michigan Radio. September 23, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  13. ↑ Hinkley, Justin A. (March 8, 2016). "Firefighters call on Legislature to fund cancer care". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  14. ↑ "2018 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/06/2018". mielections.us. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  15. ↑ "Michigan Senate OKs new scholarships, boosts college funding". Associated Press. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  16. ↑ "Curtis Hertel Jr. resigns from Gov. Whitmer's office". WLNS-TV. June 30, 2023.
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