State Rep. Lee Gonzales is a dedicated fighter for the people of the Flint area and Genesee County. As a State Representative, his top priorities include:
- Creating jobs for Genesee County workers.
- Stopping the outsourcing of Michigan jobs.
- Protecting Michigan’s working families.
- Encouraging renewable energy development.
- Addressing Michigan's transportation infrastructure problems.
- Promoting healthy lifestyles for Michigan citizens and reducing healthcare costs.
Work History
Gonzales has more than 30 years of experience in local, state and federal government. He served for seven years as assistant treasurer for Genesee County and was instrumental in establishing a land bank to use Michigan's property tax laws as a community economic development tool. From 1992 to 1996, Gonzales served as Genesee County’s development director; he was responsible for writing the grant application resulting in the $25-million Flint/Genesee Job Corps Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. This facility includes a child development center and a solo-parent dormitory.
Gonzales also worked as an administrator for the Michigan Department of Agriculture, as a program specialist and local government liaison for Gov. James J. Blanchard, as assistant to U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee and as assistant director for the Flint Spanish Speaking Information Center.
Family
Gonzales and his wife, Brenda Galloway Gonzales have three adult children, Ehren, Gretchen and Elijah, and four grandchildren, Zachary, Abigail, Asher and Isabella.
Education
Gonzales holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies/urban administration and a master’s of public administration from the University of Michigan-Flint. During his graduate work, he was awarded two Rackham Graduate Fellowships. Gonzales also completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Henry Toll Fellowship Leadership Program conducted by the Council of State Governments.
Community Involvement
Gonzales serves as a board member on the University of Michigan-Flint Chancellor Advisory Committee and the Metro Housing Board, as a member of the GI Forum/Hispanic Technology Center and as the former chairman and current member of both the Democratic Club 225 and the Hispanic Caucus of Genesee County. Gonzales also currently serves as the Speaker's representative on the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission.