NEW HAVEN – Surrounded by family, former students, local officials and supporters, State Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond) took part in her ceremonial swearing-in Tuesday.
"I am honored to serve as our community's voice in Lansing, and I will work hard every day to do the best job I possibly can," said Haase, who is serving her first term representing the 32nd District, which covers parts of Macomb and St. Clair counties. "As a teacher, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact that Michigan's problems have had on our working families. I want to get to work making the changes we need right now to create jobs and turn our economy around."
As a State Representative, Haase will focus on creating good-paying jobs now in rapidly growing fields such as renewable energy; strengthening our schools to ensure that all children can succeed in life and in the workplace; expanding access to high-quality preschool and making higher education available to all residents; and protecting our water and stopping the flood of trash from Canada and other states.
Fifth-graders from Warren Woods Westwood Elementary watched Tuesday as the Honorable Douglas Shepherd, who serves as a judge in 41-A District Court, presided over the ceremonial swearing-in of their former teacher. Haase was in her 11th year of teaching in Warren Woods Public Schools when she was elected in November. Haase was later officially sworn in by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Tracy Yokich in Mt.Clemens.
"I wanted to have the ceremony here in the community so my students could be part of it," Haase said. "This is a bittersweet day for me, starting this new journey but also having to leave the classroom. But I will take everything I learned from my students with me, and they will be my inspiration to never give up trying to solve problems and make things better."