News

Michigan Municipal League Honors Representatives Ellison and Yaroch as 2021 Legislators of the Year

Contact:
Matt Bach
Michigan Municipal League
c: (810) 874-1073; [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2021

Michigan Municipal League Honors Representatives Ellison and Yaroch as 2021 Legislators of the Year

League Statement on U.S. Senate Passing Stimulus

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The Michigan Municipal League honored State Rep. Jeff Yaroch (R-Richmond) recently as the League’s 2021 Legislator of the Year.

Yaroch received the recognition this week during the League’s 2021 virtual Capital Conference.

Rep. Yaroch recently began his third and final term in the State House representing the 33rd House District in northeast Macomb County. Prior to joining the Legislature, Yaroch served 17 years on the Richmond City Council from 1999 to 2016 and was actively engaged with the Municipal League throughout his tenure.

“Representative Yaroch is a true, unabashed municipal champion and deserves our appreciation and recognition as one of the League’s 2021 Legislators of the Year. His depth and breadth of local government experience—first as a firefighter and paramedic and then as a city councilmember—has made him a go-to leader of municipal issues inside the Capitol,” said Westland Mayor and League Board President William Wild. “He is someone who understands that local communities are the foundation of our state’s economy, and he has been a tireless advocate on issues that help make and keep Michigan cities vibrant.”

Rep. Yaroch earned a reputation for proudly wearing his local government hat while serving as a key member of the House Appropriations Committee where he would constantly share with his legislative colleagues the importance of local control and the need to restore revenue sharing. Yaroch also championed legislation to reimburse local governments for revenues lost due to the state-imposed disabled veteran property tax exemption. He also sponsored legislation in consultation with the League for more oversight and local authority over mobile home parks and key parts of the League-supported public notice reform package.

Rep. Yaroch has also been a strong advocate for the need to provide additional local authority over issues like fireworks, as well as reforming the state’s emergency management laws, and for changing the PA 51 distribution formula for road funding to better reflect more urbanized areas.

His 27 years of experience as a firefighter/paramedic allowed him the ability to provide valuable insight to League staff on policy issues impacting our first responders. The League worked together with Yaroch to champion legislation that banned the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS for training exercises. Thanks to his efforts, all Michigan firefighters will now be trained on the risks of foam containing PFAS, which will help protect Michigan communities from the threat of future contamination.

“Every legislator brings their personal experiences to the job in Lansing, and I am proud to be able to offer my insights as a first responder and local elected official,” Yaroch said.

“I have not forgotten that I came from local government and I will continue to advocate for our hard-working local leaders who must deal with unfunded mandates and the burdensome regulations of state government.”

Rep. Yaroch received the Legislator of the Year honor alongside Rep. Jim Ellison (D-Royal Oak).

About the Legislator of the Year Award: The honor is presented each year to lawmakers for their instrumental actions in the Michigan State Legislature on behalf of local communities. These individuals are recognized for their efforts in the passage of legislation that will benefit local governments or who have fought consistently to support local government.

For additional information contact the League’s Matt Bach, assistant director of strategic communications, at (810) 874-1073 (cell) and [email protected].

Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org.

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