Of The People
Jewish legislator breaks stereotypes to succeed
in southwest Detroit district.
from fraud and abuse. He's working to
create in-state tuition for immigrant
Staff Writer
children and passed legislation that
increased fines on illegal dumpers and
ncumbent State Rep. Steve
on landlords who don't maintain their
Tobocman, a suburban-raised Jew,
property.
says his election two years ago
"The Jewish experience suggests that
from the southwest Detroit district with
Jews,
in particular, reach out beyond
the state's largest Hispanic community
the
Jewish
community to other groups,
shows the city's potential to move
especially minorities, to ensure their
beyond stereotypical notions of race
civil liberties and that their economic
and religion.
opportunities are protected and
Tobocman, seeking re-election to the
enhanced," he says. "We have an obli-
$79,650 12th District State House seat,
gation to those issues given our own
faces two Democratic challengers in the
historical experience in the world. So
Aug. 3 primary: Otis Mathis III, 49,
when
I work on Latino issues, it's really
and Juan Martinez, 39. The winner will
immigrant issues and I feel very proud
face Republican Anita M. Salazar in the
to be a leader on immigrant
Nov. 2 election.
issues in Michigan."
Tobocman, 34, grew up
Tobocman has served on
in Farmington Hills, gradu-
numerous boards, including
ated from Cranbrook
the Detroit Jewish Initiatives
Kingswood Upper School in
of the Jewish Federation of
Bloomfield Hills and earned
Metropolitan
Detroit, the
both a law degree and a
ACLU and the Mexicantown
master's in public policy
Community Development
from the University of
Corporation.
Michigan in Ann Arbor. A
"It's my hope that people
member of the Birmingham
can look beyond the walls —
Temple, Tobocman recently Tobocman
real and imaginary — that
married Sharon Dolente.
continue to divide us. It gives
Tobocman first moved to southwest
me a sense of pride that the people in
Detroit in 1997 to start Community
Legal Resources, which offered free legal southwest Detroit have looked beyond
these walls and have made a decision
assistance to nonprofit organizations in
who can best represent them based on
Detroit.
the quality of their actions rather than
"The important issues in this race
the color of their skin."
include providing effective service to
Candidate Mathis is a general con-
southwest Detroit, dealing with blight
tractor and president of MatGar Inc. A
and crime and providing quality educa-
tion and jobs," he says. "All Detroit rep- member of Pine Grove Missionary
Baptist in Detroit, Mathis was a Wayne
resentatives have the same battles."
County commissioner for four years
Tobocman believes he is best quali-
and is currently president of the
fied for his position because he has pro-
Kemeny Recreation Center Advisory
duced tangible results in his first term,
Board in Detroit.
where others have not. "I have a district
Candidate Martinez, 39, chief of staff
office, fully staffed and the only one
to Detroit Councilwoman Sheila
that's fully bilingual," Tobocman says.
Cockrel and a former assistant to
His predecessor didn't have a district
Mayor Dennis Archer, is also running
office.
to represent the 12th District. Martinez,
His office has successfully processed
who is married and has two children,
hundreds of complaints as well as
was born and raised in southwest
helped 80 families in his district with
Detroit. He is a doctoral student at
their income tax for no fee, which net-
Wayne State University in education
ted the low-income families $125,000.
and has served on many boards, includ-
Tobocman is also responsible for leg-
ing Friends of the Detroit Public
islation that will affect more than his
Library, the Patton Park and
community. Recendy, he helped pass
Recreational Center advisory board and
Michigan's landmark consumer protec-
tion legislation that protects immigrants Latino Family Services.
SHARON LUCKERMAN
I
❑
Fleischman Residence/Blumberg Plaza
For older adults in need of assistance with
ally ving...above and beyond
Thy and Peter D. Brown
Care Pavilion
Residential Care for those with memory impairments
and/or dementia related disorders
IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY
6710 West Maple Road
West Bloomfield, Michigan
located on the
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
For more information/tour, call
WERE PART OF THE TEAM
a service of
Jewish Home Et Aging Services
Jewish
Federation
of Metwolstan Detroit
7/30
2004
21