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Ryan Fishman (D)
13th Senate: Berkley,
Birmingham, Bloomfield
Township, Bloomfield
Hills, Clawson, Madison
Heights, Royal Oak, Troy
Residence: Birmingham
Education: Andover
Ryan Fishman
High School; Syracuse
University; Wayne State University Law
School, JD, 2013
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 25
Website: ryanfishman.com
Synagogue: Temple Beth El, Bloomfield
Township
How did you get involved in
politics and when?
My high school government teacher,
Vivian Johnston, really nurtured my
passion for politics. When I started
working for a news/talk radio station in
Syracuse my sophomore year of college,
I dove in headfirst, covering politics and
getting to know politicians across the state
and the country. To bring it full circle,
Vivian introduced me at my campaign
kickoff in November when we officially
launched — she's been a friend and
mentor all these years.
What is your previous political
experience?
My political background really comes from
my experiences as a journalist and talk
show host for WSYR radio in New York. I
had opportunities to meet and learn from
some of the best leaders in our country —
like Ed Koch and Andrew Cuomo — and
saw some of the worst around, like a state
senator who embezzled tens of millions
of dollars from a state-funded charity he
ran. That's why I decided to come back to
Michigan, to be a part of the process.
And here it all started with Bubba
Urdan. When Bubba decided to run for
state representative in 2012, he called me
and told me I was his campaign manager,
and I got a chance to jump into local
politics headfirst. Though unsuccessful,
we pushed an important message, which
was that the GOP needed to stand up for
women's rights and marriage equality.
Through that experience, I met my busi-
New generation of
Jewish Democrats steps
up to the plate.
Harry Kirsbaum I Contributing Writer
ness partner Derek Dickow and joined
him at Steward Media. We ran a success-
ful campaign for the new mayor of Troy,
Dane Slater, who beat Marty Knollenberg
in a contentious special election, and then
worked on Mike Duggan's fundraising and
outreach team.
Who are your opponents, and
what are your chances?
We can't say for sure if we'll have a
Democratic primary opponent until the
filing deadline in April, but I have the
support of almost every Democratic state
senator and a number of Democratic state
representatives. The two Republicans that
have filed are former State Rep. Chuck
Moss and State Rep. Tom McMillin.
We can run a strong campaign against
either Republican, and in Lansing there
are a lot of eyes on this campaign. My
background and my positions will resonate
with Democratic voters, independents
and moderate Republicans who feel
disenfranchised by the direction of the
Republican Party — largely for the same
reasons I left it behind. We've out-raised
both of the Republicans. Our end-of-the-
year fundraising number was $107,000;
we brought in nearly 250 donors across
the district, and I believe it's a testament to
our capacity to succeed in November.
What are your strengths?
Weaknesses?
My opponent is going to say my age and
my lack of "political experience but I
would challenge that perspective and say
they are two of my greatest strengths. I
believe I have plenty to learn, but that's
the job of a legislator in my book and too
many are unwilling to learn or refuse to
listen to the voices in their communities.
As a senator, I must be learning every
day, meeting with constituents, business
owners, service agencies and others in the
district and hearing about the challenges
they face and how legislation impacts
their lives on a daily basis. I might not
have more life experience than the average
25 year old, but even if I were 65, I'd say
my job is to go to Lansing and be open-
minded, willing to keep learning and open
to new ideas every day.
I bring a fresh perspective to the table,
and I'm not bogged down in favors owed
to special interests or the long-standing
feuds that tend to develop when someone
serves six years in the House and then
runs for an eight-year term in the Senate.
Our political climate has become so
divisive, with partisans refusing to even
talk with each other or acknowledge
one another, let alone work together on
compromise for the betterment of our
communities and our state.
How did you get involved in
politics and when?
I've been interested in politics and the
political process for as long as I can
remember. My family even planned a
summer vacation to Washington, D.C.,
before I started first grade because, at that
young age, I had already developed a deep
interest in government.
What are the challenges in your
district?
Our public schools are underfunded, and
in the communities I would represent
we've long celebrated having some of
the best public schools in the country
— public or private. I want to stand up
for preserving the infrastructure that
has held up our property values, not
tear it down. Our roads are a national
embarrassment, and we spend less per
capita than any other state in the country.
It's time we fix our crumbling roads and
bridges and make real investments in
infrastructure spending for the good of
our communities and for our future as a
part of interstate commerce.
Our young minds are not just walking
— they're running — out of Michigan
and taking their talents with them. We
need to demonstrate that this is a place
they can live, work and play, and I want
to help get our kids and grandkids back
to Michigan by showing them they
have a seat at the table. I welcome these
challenges as an opportunity to work
toward the state of Michigan where I
want to raise my family.
What is your previous political
experience?
In August 2005, I first walked into
the office of the state representative
for Michigan's 35th House District in
Lansing to begin a legislative internship
during my sophomore year of college
at MSU. That turned into a legislative
staff position with then-State Rep. Paul
Condino, subsequently working on several
campaigns with Mayor Brenda Lawrence. I
returned to Lansing in 2011 as the district
director for our current State Rep. Rudy
Hobbs.
I spent countless hours working with
district residents — including my own
neighbors in Southfield — seeking
solutions to their issues and concerns
when they reached out to their state
representative's office. These experiences
helped to grow my strong passion for
serving our community and led me to run
for and win a seat on the Southfield City
Council, where I now work every day as a
problem solver in local government.
N.
Jeremy Moss
Jeremy Moss (D)
35th House: Southfield,
Lathrup Village, Beverly
Hills, Bingham Farms
and Franklin
Residence: Southfield
Education: Birmingham
Groves High School;
Michigan State
University, 2008,
political science, journalism degrees
Occupation: Graphic designer, Southfield
City Council member
Age: 27
Website: jeremyforsouthfield.com
Synagogue: Board member at
Congregation Beth Ahm, West
Bloomfield
Who are your opponents, and
what are your chances?
They are Nicole Brown and Mykale
Garrett, both from Lathrup Village.
Southfield is the largest municipality in
the district, and about 84 percent of the
Democratic primary election voters will be
Southfield residents.
I placed first among a crowded field of
incumbents and challengers vying for four
seats on the Southfield City Council in
2011, so I know how to run a campaign to
reach district voters.
What are your strengths?
I was Mayor Brenda Lawrence's successful
re-election campaign manager in 2009
and incumbent State Rep. Rudy Hobbs
successful campaign manager in 2010. I
also was a winning candidate myself in
2011, so I have a proven record of earning
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March 13 • 2014