Julie Plawecki Explained

Julie Plawecki
State House:Michigan
District:11th
Term Start:January 1, 2015
Term End:June 25, 2016
Predecessor:David Knezek
Successor:Lauren Plawecki
Birth Date:27 August 1961
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Death Place:Smith Rock State Park, Oregon, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Mark Plawecki
Children:3, including Lauren Plawecki
Residence:Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Alma Mater:Oakland University

Julie Plawecki (August 27, 1961  - June 25, 2016) was an American politician from Michigan who represented the 11th District—which comprises the cities of Garden City and Inkster, and parts of Dearborn Heights, Livonia and Westland—in the Michigan House of Representatives after being elected in November 2014 for the Democratic Party.[1] [2]

Biography

Plawecki attended Warren Public Schools and Michigan State University. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oakland University with a dual major in chemistry and general science, and obtained her professional teaching certificate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Plawecki lived in Dearborn Heights with her husband, Mark Plawecki, where they raised their three daughters.[3] [4]

A former medical technologist, Plawecki taught science, math, and religion at both the secondary and elementary school levels. Prior to her election, she worked at St. Robert Bellarmine, a Catholic school in Redford, and also coached the school’s Science Olympiad team. She was a member of the National Science Teachers Association and the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

In the 2014 Michigan House of Representatives elections, Plawecki successfully ran for the seat to represent Michigan's 11th House of Representatives district. Her eldest daughter, a 2012 Michigan State University graduate and 2015 Masters candidate at Yale University, forwent a summer’s paid internship at Yale to become manager of Plawecki's campaign.[5] [6]

Plawecki died on June 25, 2016, while hiking in Smith Rock State Park in Oregon with her daughters.[7] She was hiking and suddenly collapsed—attempts to revive her proved unsuccessful and she was then pronounced dead. It is presumed she suffered a heart attack.[8] Her daughter Lauren Plawecki later won a special election to finish her term in the state legislature.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rep. Julie Plawecki's Biography. Michigan House Democrats. 2015-01-07. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131217043548/http://011.housedems.com/biography. 2013-12-17.
  2. News: 2014 Live Michigan election results: State House Districts 1-110 . MLive . November 4, 2014 . November 28, 2014.
  3. Web site: Plawecki vs. Rhoades in 11th State Rep District. hometownlife.com. 9 October 2014. 2015-01-11.
  4. Web site: State House District 11. Michigan Voters Guide. 2014. 2015-01-11. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141017062600/http://votersguide.michigan.com/race-detail.do?id=13321734. 2014-10-17.
  5. Web site: About Julie Plawecki. Friends of Julie Plawecki. 2015-01-11. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141108091407/http://julieplawecki.com/About.aspx. 2014-11-08.
  6. Web site: The Arab American News - Julie Plawecki runs for state representative in Michigan's 11th House District. The Arab American News. April 4, 2014. 2015-01-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113193151/http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_8550/cid_26/Julie-Plawecki-runs-for-state-representative-in-Michigan%E2%80%99s-11th-House-District.html. January 13, 2015. dead.
  7. Web site: Michigan Rep. Julie Plawecki dead at 54. Stafford. Katrease. Detroit Free Press. en. 2020-04-18.
  8. Web site: Michigan legislator collapses, dies of presumed heart attack while hiking on Smith Rock. Jim Ryan | The. Oregonian/OregonLive. June 28, 2016. oregonlive.
  9. Web site: 2016 Michigan Election Results . Michigan Department of State . November 28, 2016 . December 6, 2016.