Alumni in Government
Senator Jim Ananich
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich has served in the Michigan Senate since 2013, when he won a special election to fill the 27th Senate District seat. He is now in his third term (second full term) in the Senate.
Ananich was elected Senate Minority Leader by his peers following his reelection to the Senate in 2014, and again in 2018. He is the first to be elected the leader of a Senate caucus more than once in the era of term limits.
Prior to his inaugural term in the Senate, Ananich represented portions of Flint and Genesee County for one full term and one partial term in the Michigan House of Representatives. He also served four years on the Flint City Council, including one year as its president.
During his tenure in the legislature, Ananich has been at the forefront of addressing the Flint Water Crisis. He continues to push for answers and champion long-term solutions to the critical infrastructure, health and economic needs the community now faces.
Ananich led efforts to help create good-paying jobs, improve workforce development, prevent scrap metal theft and keep unused prescription drugs off the streets. His bill to make Flint a promise zone was signed into law in 2017, awarding Flint students the opportunity to attend college or trade school tuition-free.
He is a former civics and government teacher at Carman-Ainsworth and Flint Community Schools and also worked as an education coordinator for Priority Children, where he helped train Genesee County youth to secure internships and jobs.
Ananich graduated from Flint Central High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in political economics from Michigan State University, as well as a secondary education certificate in social studies. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan-Flint.
Representative Tim Sneller
State Representative Tim Sneller is serving his second term in the House of Representatives. He represents the 50th House District, which includes the cities of Grand Blanc and Burton, as well as Grand Blanc and Mundy townships.
He currently serves as the Democratic Vice Chair for the House Transportation Committee and as a member of the House Energy and Insurance committees. During his first term, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy Policy, Agriculture, and Financial Liability Reform committees, as well as the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Before serving as the representative for the 50th House District, Sneller served over 30 years as legislative aide to several legislators in Michigan, including many from Genesee County. This includes former state Representatives Charles Smiley, Rick Hammel, Lee Gonzales, Brenda Clack, Frank Accavitti, Jr., Gino Polidori and Bob Emerson, as well as former state Senator John D. Cherry, Jr. During this time, he also taught social studies and history for two years in middle schools throughout Genesee County. Prior to working in the Michigan Legislature, Rep. Sneller worked at the Flint General Motors Truck and Bus Plant, where he became an alternate committeeman and proud member of the UAW Local 598.
Tim Sneller graduated from Burton Bentley High School, and earned both a bachelor’s degree in political science and a secondary teaching certificate from the University of Michigan-Flint. He is a lifelong resident of Genesee County.