Clit*Mkt
12th District Race
Detroit legislator supports Latino, Jewish concerns.
don't maintain their property.
With a three-term limit, the state
representative has a growing list of bills
mmigration issues are important
he'll work to pass in an expected sec-
ond term.
to first-term State Rep. Steve
Tobocman, who represents the
"My background is in community
state's largest Hispanic community in
economic development and I went to
his southwest Detroit district.
Lansing to improve these kinds of
When he wanted to pass a landmark issues," says Tobocman, who earned a
law degree and a master's degree in
immigration bill he helped draft, he
public policy from the University of
approached a number of communities
— including the Jewish community
Michigan in Ann Arbor. He has a
— for support.
bachelor's degree in economics from
"The Jewish community
the University of Virginia.
is very concerned with
He first moved to southwest
immigration issues," said
Detroit in 1997 to start
Eric Adelman, community
Community Legal
relations' director of the
Resources, which offered free
Jewish Community Council
legal assistance to nonprofit
of Metropolitan Detroit.
organizations in Detroit.
The JCCouncil and Jewish
"We don't have effective
Family Service, which helps
community development
many Jewish immigrants
policies," he says. "While we
Tobocman
from the former Soviet
passed the land bank author-
Union, are agencies that
ity that will help abandoned
property in urban areas be redeveloped
supported Tobocman's Michigan
more expeditiously, we don't have an
Immigration Clerical Assistance Act
passed this year that protects immi-
affordable housing fund. I'll continue
grants from fraud and abuse.
my work on that and on other issues
"Steve has also worked to deepen the like financial disclosure laws."
Tobocman will pursue a financial
relationship between the Latino and
disclosure law in which legislators will
Jewish communities on issues of
mutual concerns like heath care, senior have to disclose outside income so the
public is aware of potential conflict of
citizen issues and civil rights,"
interests.
Adelman said. "He knows the players
"Michigan just received an F (fail)
in the Latino community and helped
from the Center for Public Integrity, a
us create these relationships that will
Washington, D.C.-based advocacy
benefit both communities."
group that reports on the influence of
The young Tobocman, a suburban-
money for special interests in politics.
raised Jew, is seeking re-election to the
We're one of only four states to receive
12th District State House seat as a
an F."
Democrat. He faces two candidates,
Tobocman, a longtime member of
Republican Anita M. Salazar and
the Birmingham Temple, recently mar-
Libertarian Raymond Warner, in the
ried Sharon Dolente, who also earned
Nov. 2 election.
a law degree and a master's in public
In a district that votes 90-percent
policy from U-M. Tobocman has
Democratic, he says he expects to win
served on numerous boards including
more than 90 percent of the vote as he
the Mexicantown Community Devel-
did in his first general election.
opment Corporation and the Detroit
Tobocman, 34, says he believes he is
the popular candidate because he is the Jewish Initiatives of the Jewish
best in delivering services, and he has a Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Republican Anita Salazar of Detroit
record of achieving positive results for
could not be reached for comment.
his constituents.
Libertarian Raymond Warner of
He has the only bilingual district
Detroit, a retired state civil service
office in the state, and it is fully
employee, attended Wayne State
staffed, he says. His predecessor didn't
University but did not graduate, he
have a district office. He passed bills
says. Single, he is focused on immigra-
that created in-state tuition for immi-
tion issues and the elimination of
grant children and increased fines on
mandatory auto insurance. ❑
illegal dumpers and on landlords who
SHARON LUCKERMAN
staff Writer
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