Bob Alexander (East Lansing, MI)

Infobox_State_Senator
name= Robert Alexander


date of birth=birth date and age|1944|10|31
place of birth=Nashville, Tennessee
date of death=
place of death=
spouse= Julie Alexander
profession=public policy
religion=Protestant
party=Democrat|

Robert Darwood Alexander (born October 31, 1944) is a public policy advocate from East Lansing Michigan. He is a Democratic candiate for Michigan's 8th Congressional District. Also known as Bob Alexander.

Early life

Robert (Bob) Alexander was born in Nashville, Tennessee on October 31, 1944, the son of Robert and Dorothy Alexander, and grew up in Berkley, Michigan.

In 1966, Bob Alexander received a Bachelor of Arts in American History from the University of Michigan. After graduating Bob joined the Peace Corps and decided to serve his nation in a peaceful and constructive way in an intensive agricultural program in India. Alexander's work with the Peace Corps profoundly influenced him, and ignited his career as an organizer and coalition builder to improve the lives of people.

In 1968, Alexander joined the National Teachers Corps as an Intern and then as a Teacher at the Hopkinsville Junior High in Kentucky, and Webster Elementary and Earhart Junior High in Southwest Detroit. In 1970, Bob earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Wayne State University. In 1971, he substituted in Whitmore Lake, Hamburg and Pinckney Schools. From 1973 to 1978, he taught in the [http://www.wrcs.k12.mi.us Willow Run Community] Schools in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1979, Bob Alexander started working for State Senators Edward Pierce and then Lana Pollack in Lansing, Michigan. Alexander was a Policy Analyst for the state [http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/ Energy Services and Medicaid programs] . He was also the Project Officer of 16 Medicaid Demonstration Projects that expanded access to care, increased available programs, and reduced financial waste.

Current

In 2000, Alexander became Assistant to the Director of [http://www.cbcmi.org/ Citizens for Better Care] , advocating for Nursing Home residents. In 2003, he taught at Davenport University and Lansing area Schools. He has worked to extend http://www.communityvoices.org/Uploads/APHA_00108_00076.pdf The Ingham Health Plan] to 16,500 of the 31,000 Ingham county residents who did not have health care.

In 2004, Alexander unsuccessfully ran against Mike Rogers [See Reference "House candidates differ on solutions"]

In 2006, Alexander co-directed a local petition drive [See Reference "Minimum wage increase appears to be done deal"] that helped raise Michigan’s Minimum Wage by 29%.

Currently, Alexander owns and runs Alexander Consultants, LLC, a governmental and business management consulting firm in East Lansing, Michigan.

2008 election

In May 2008, Bob Alexander filed to challenge Representative Mike Rogers. No one else filed to run, and now Bob is the Democratic nominee and will conduct a competitive challenge to Rogers. [See Reference "Democrat Alexander to run against Rogers in 8th District"]

Personal

Alexander lives in East Lansing, Michigan with his wife, Julie Horn Alexander. Julie is an administrator in the State Human Services program. They have three adult children, a daughter in law and two grandchildren.

Notes

References

[http://de.theoaklandpress.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=T0xQLzIwMDQvMTAvMTEjQXIwMDEwMQ=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom "House candidates differ on solutions"] The Oakland Press October 11, 2004

[http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/031506/loc_2006031501.shtml "Minimum wage increase appears to be done deal"] The Oakland Press March 15, 2006

[http://michiganmessenger.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1249 "Democrat Alexander to run against Rogers in 8th District"] [http://www.michiganmessenger.com/magFront.do Michigan Messenger] May 13, 2008

External links

* [http://alexanderforcongress.com Bob Alexander for Congress Website]