Press Release
Contact:
Matt Bach
Director of Communications
Michigan Municipal League
(734) 669-6317; C: (810) 874-1073
[email protected]; www.mml.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2019
State Rep. Jim Lilly Named Legislator of the Year
Lawmaker Honored by Michigan Municipal League
LANSING, Michigan – The Michigan Municipal League has honored State Rep. Jim Lilly (R-Macatawa) as one of the League’s 2019 Legislators of the Year. The award was formally presented to Rep. Lilly during the League’s annual Capital Conference Awards Gala March 19 in Lansing.
Rep. Lilly represents the state’s 89th House District which covers the townships of Grand Haven, Olive Park, Port Sheldon, Robinson, Blendon, Crockery, and Spring Lake, and the cities of Ferrysburg, and Grand Haven. Grand Haven Mayor Geri McCaleb presented him the award Tuesday.
“Jim is a tremendously hard worker and has a great personality and a lot of drive,” McCaleb said. “He has been a great help for us in a variety of ways. Being a Lake Shore community, we are ground zero for fireworks, especially around the holidays. He helped craft new legislation that will help us better regulate fireworks. He is very accessible, he’s always there and willing to work for us. He’s a busy man and we thank him very much.”
Rep. Lilly, serving in his first term in the Michigan House, distinguished himself as a legislator not afraid to tackle important issues. From his early days in office, Rep Lilly has been a consistent partner with League staff. Of particular note this past year was Rep. Lilly’s role in introducing and passing a package of bills that provide some relief to local units of government relative to the state’s fireworks law. Rep. Lilly listened to the League and his communities, brought the industry to the table with local government groups, and fashioned a proposal that achieved a delicate balance between the two interests.
Additionally, following the concerns raised by local governments in the late summer over the statewide “Emily” ballot FOIA, Rep. Lilly worked closely with the League to develop language that would address a number of the issues that FOIA requests brought to the surface. He successfully navigated a late introduction of the proposal during Lame Duck and pushed this needed fix through during the last hours of the session in December.
He sponsored and helped shepherd legislation formalizing the fiscal note process for all legislation, highlighting the importance of analyzing the impact that each piece of legislation could have on local government revenues. He worked with the League and his local communities to caution his colleagues to use restraint on the short-term rental proposal, recognizing the problems with the introduced version and attempting to forge compromise through alternative approaches. Rep. Lilly continues to be a respected voice within his caucus and a great partner to the League.
“I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” said Rep. Lilly. “I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished in partnership with the League to improve our communities in Ottawa County and across Michigan.”
Lilly received the Legislator of the Year award along with Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland).
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 photos of Lilly receiving the award go to this Michigan Municipal League “Awards and Honors Photos” album on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/michigancommunities/albums/72157677160400387. Photos can be downloaded from the League’s flickr page for free. We just ask that the following photo credit be given: Flickr Photo Michigan Municipal League/mml.org.
For additional information contact the League’s Matt Bach, director of communications, at (734) 669-6317 (office) and [email protected].
About the League: 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.