Jeff and Michelle Mayes. Barcia Lauds Gougeon in Farewell; Mayes Leaves Legacy of Area Tourism Bill
|
||||||||||||
| Printer Friendly Story View |
In an admirable show of bipartisan spirit, retiring State Senator James A. Barcia, a Democrat, tipped his hat to former Bay area State Senator Joel Gougeon, a Republican.
Sen. Barcia also complimented his good friend and colleague, Rep. Jeff Mayes, Bay County Democrat, and was one of 31 senators voting for a Mayes' sponsored tourism promotion bill for the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Sen. Barcia noted that he succeeded Gougeon in 2003 after the Republican had served 10 years in the Senate. Gougeon is now a lobbyist representing educational and other agencies.
Barcia also tipped his hat in his farewell speech to Bay area Republican senators Tony Stamas of Midland and Roger Kahn of Saginaw, as well as Alan Samborn of Lexington and Jason Allen of Traverse City.
The Senate passed a bill originally introduced in May by Rep. Mayes to allow a hike in the accommodations tax from 2 percent to 5 percent in Bay and Midland counties.
Rep. Mayes' House bill 6206 was adopted on a 31-2 vote and given immediate effect.
The bill provides that a convention and tourism bureau wishing to operate under the new act would have to file a marketing program notice with the director of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
To be eligible to levy the added tax, the local bureau would have to have been in existence five years, have a board of directors elected by members, have a full time chief executive and two employees and be a member of one or more nationally recognized associations of travel and convention bureaus.
Strict financial reporting requirements would have to be met or the local bureau could face a $10,000 fine for violating state civil statutes and could be dissolved by the attorney general.
Rep. Mayes, who is term limited, leaves office after six years of service in the Legislature.
Born and raised in Bay City, Mayes is an Eagle Scout, was graduated from T.L. Handy High School in 1990 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Communications from the University of Michigan in 1994 where he was an Evans Scholar. He is currently a member of the Knights of Columbus, Michigan Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association.
Former Supervisor of the Bangor Charter Township, President of the Bay County Township Officers Association, Mayes is very involved in a number of community organizations.
Among honors Rep. Mayes won as a legislator were the Tim Pope Outstanding Young Governmental Leader Award of the Michigan Jaycees (2008); House Advocate of the Year Michigan Manufacturers Association (2008);
Leadership in Renewable Energy Policy, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (2008;)Friend of Labor Award for Outstanding Support for Organized Labor, Bay County AFL-CIO (2008); and the Michigan Agri-Business Association Outstanding Legislator Award 2005 (2006).
A lifelong resident of Bay County, Michigan, Senator Jim Barcia was born in Bay City on February 25, 1952. He is a graduate of Bay City Central High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Saginaw Valley State University in 1974. Senator Barcia is married to Vicki Bartlett. He has two step-children and six grandchildren.
Barcia has a long and distinguished career in public service, beginning in college while serving as student body president at SVSU. Barcia was elected to three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives and five terms in the United States Congress. Senator Barcia is currently serving his fifth term in the Michigan State Senate.
Senator Barcia has been the Chair of the Senate Committee on Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation. He sat on the Senate Appropriations Committee and was a member of the Human Services and Community Health subcommittees, and Minority Vice-Chair of the Higher Education and State Police and Military Affairs subcommittees.
Senator Barcia also served as the Associate President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
He also was term limited. Neither Rep. Mayes nor Sen. Barcia have announced future plans. ###
| Printer Friendly Story View |
"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers! |
|
BILLYBONESBBQ Says:
On December 06, 2010
at 10:03 AM
THE HONORABLE JOEL GOUGEON WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ALL THINGS BENEFICIAL TO BAY COUNTY. HE OFTEN SPOKE WITH CONVIVTION, DEDICATION AND LOVE FOR HIS BELOVED TOWN ON THE RIVER. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO KNOW AND APPRECIATE BAY CITY THROUGH HIS EYES. SINCERELY BILLY BONES
|
|
|
Dave Rogers |
|
|
|
Printer-Friendly Story View
0200 Nd: 04-21-2024 d 4 cpr 0
12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm
SPONSORED LINKS
12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm