Visionary Looks Ahead - Thomas M. Cooley Law School

featureBIRTHDATE:February 29, 1952Age: 58RESIDENT:Menominee, Mich.FAMILY:Married 36 years to Laurie.Son, Ken, a graduate of PepperdineUniversity School of LawUNDERGRADUATE STUDIES:Bachelor’s Degree in CriminalJustice, Saginaw Valley State UniversityYEARS IN OFFICE:18 – United States House ofRepresentativesFAVORITE PASTIMES:Anything to do with the outdoorsor sports. He’s a Green BayPackers fan, loves college sportsand roots for the Detroit Tigers.His current position, which also involvesmembership on three subcommittees forthe Committee on Energy and Commerce,leaves little down time. A resident ofMenominee, Stupak travels to Washington,D.C. weekly. Serving one of the country’slargest geographic districts keeps Stupakmoving, even when he is in Michigan.“There are some months I may not return tomy home at all,” he said.No matter where he stops in his district,which extends 600 miles from end to end,Stupak said nearly all of the residents hecomes in contact with share similar concernsabout jobs, the economy and health care.“They’re anxious; they’re not sure where theeconomy is heading,” he said.Stupak tries his best to invoke a sense of calm.“I empathize, but I also see positive signs,”he added.A non-stop schedule leaves little time for himto contemplate what he will do with his lifeafter his 20-year political career.“I have loved the issues; I have loved the job,but I am looking forward to spending sometime at home,” he said. “There are moreopportunities for me around the corner.”And for Stupak, home will always be in hisbeloved Menominee.BENCHMARK FALL 2010 COOLEY.EDU5