Bill Text: MI HR0177 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution of tribute offered as a memorial for John Kivela, member of the House of Representatives.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-10-12 - Adopted By Unanimous Standing Vote [HR0177 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-HR0177-Introduced.html
The Speaker, on behalf of the entire membership of the House of Representatives, offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 177.
A resolution of tribute offered as a memorial for John Kivela, member of the House of Representatives.
Whereas, The members of this legislative body were shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic passing of their colleague and friend, Representative John Kivela. A champion for the Upper Peninsula and a strong advocate for working people and small businesses, Representative Kivela believed in the power of people working together for the greater good of our state; and
Whereas, John Kivela was an active member of his community, where he acquired the skills that would make him an effective legislator. He worked for years in his family's auto repair and distributor business and would later go on to be general manager of a used car dealership. Along the way, he learned the importance of building trust and relationships to resolve problems. After serving on a local board of zoning appeals, he was elected a Marquette city commissioner in 2006 and then mayor in 2008, overseeing a period of strong economic development in the city. In 2012, he was elected for the first time to the Michigan House of Representatives; and
Whereas, Representative Kivela was an effective and well-respected legislator who worked tirelessly for the residents of the One Hundred Ninth House District. Charming, authentic, and kind, he built strong partnerships on both sides of the aisle to craft bipartisan solutions to illegal methamphetamine use and other pressing problems of our state. During his tenure, he served as minority vice-chair of the Natural Resources Committee and as a member of the Agriculture, Criminal Justice, Energy Policy, and Tourism committees. He always ensured that the voices of Michigan's Upper Peninsula residents were heard; and
Whereas, John Kivela left a lasting legacy on our state, this legislative body, and his community both in his accomplishments and his manner. He was a dedicated public servant, but more importantly, a loving husband and father. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Sandy, and children, Shelby and Andrew. May they take some solace in knowing that he made this legislative body and our state a better place and he will be missed; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of John Kivela, a member of this legislative body from 2013 to 2017; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Kivela family as evidence of our lasting esteem for his memory.
