ticular legislative interests. Steckloff, 
who was diagnosed with breast cancer 
at age 31, seeks to establish parity for 
insurance coverage of oral and infused 
cancer medications. During treatment, 
her insurance wouldn’t cover oral 
medications, so she had to take time 
off from work for infusion treatments. 
Working with Berman, she has also 
sought to pass bills that would ensure 
coverage for mammography and 
baseline cervical cancer screening for 
younger women. Steckloff says that the 
bill passed in the House but had no 
support in the Senate.

GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY
Both Moss and Berman are particularly 
interested in government transparency 
and open records. Berman believes 
that government salaries and court 
records should be easily accessible 
and consumer-friendly. He support-
ed the Legislative Open Records Act, 
which is currently awaiting action in 
the Michigan Senate. 
Berman 
also sponsored a bill to provide no-cost 
state photo identification cards that 
Michigan citizens could use for voting 
and other purposes. It was passed by 
the state legislature but vetoed by Gov. 
Gretchen Whitmer.
As a state representative, Moss 
worked across the aisle to pass 10 
bills that would open up government 
records, including the governor’s office 
and state legislature, to public scrutiny 
under the Freedom of Information Act.
The legislators have somewhat differ-
ent views on the redistricting that has 
changed the boundaries of legislative 
districts for the state House and Senate. 
Moss and Steckloff believe the new dis-
tricts increase fairness in the election 
process. Berman disagrees — with the 
view that “the redistricting commission 
didn’t do what it could or should have.”
Under the new district maps, Moss 
and Steckloff will be able to seek reelec-
tion in districts which include many of 
their current constituents. Berman is 
leaving the state house to run for state 
attorney general. 

About Michigan’s Jewish State Legislators

RYAN BERMAN 
Berman, 41, was elected to office in 2018, representing the 
39th district that includes Wixom, Commerce Township, 
part of West Bloomfield Township and Wolverine Lake. He 
and his wife and two daughters live in West Bloomfield. An 
active community volunteer, Berman serves 
as a reserve police officer. He was inspired 
to run for office by David Honigman, a for-
mer state representative who is his uncle 
by marriage.
Berman and his family are members of 
Temple Israel, where his wife is a teach-
er. He graduated from Michigan State 
University and Wayne State University Law 
School and has a private law practice.

JEREMY MOSS
Moss, 35, was elected to the state House of 
Representatives in 2014 and served as Democratic Whip. 
He was elected to the state Senate in 2018 representing 
the 11th District encompassing Farmington, Farmington 
Hills, Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Southfield, Ferndale, 
Hazel Park, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Pleasant 
Ridge and Royal Oak Township.
Moss grew up in Southfield, where 
he currently resides. He was elected as 
Southfield’s youngest city council mem-
ber in 2011. A graduate of Michigan State 
University, he participated in several 
domestic and overseas humanitarian ini-
tiatives during college. He is an advisory 
board member of the Martin Luther King 
Task Force in Southfield. Moss is a Hillel 
Day School graduate and a former board member of Beth 
Ahm.

SAMANTHA STECKLOFF
Steckloff, 38, is serving her first term in the Michigan 
House of Representatives, representing the 37th district 
comprised of Farmington and Farmington Hills. She is a 
lifelong resident of Farmington Hills, where she lives with 
her husband. Steckloff served eight years as a Farmington 
Hills City Council member.
Steckloff worked at Hillel while attend-
ing Michigan State University, where she 
graduated. She attends the Isaac Agree 
Downtown Synagogue and the Woodward 
Avenue Shul. Steckloff has a family back-
ground of public service. Her mother, Vicki 
Barnett, served as mayor of Farmington 
Hills and later in the state legislature as 
minority whip.

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