It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that we have added a new blogger here at Eclectablog. Barb Byrum is a dear friend and a passionate warrior for progressive issues and voting rights & election integrity in particular. Barb is currently in her second term as Ingham County Clerk, serving as the county’s chief elections official. […]

The following guest post was written by Friend of the Blog Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga). Barb is currently serving her second term as the Ingham County Clerk. Before that, Clerk Byrum served in the Michigan House of Representatives for six years. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Michigan Association of County Clerks (MACC) and also […]

The following post was written by Ingham County Clerk and former state legislator Barb Byrum. Enjoy. You may have first learned of the Trump Administration’s request for voter information from Susan Demas’ blog post. You have probably since learned that many states are denying the request either completely or partially. Michigan’s Secretary of State Ruth Johnson stated that her Office […]

The following editorial essay was written by Ingham County Clerk and former State Representative Barb Byrum. Enjoy. Administering elections is a fascinating job, and one that I take very seriously. Like Michigan’s other 82 county clerks, I’m focused on providing reliable, secure, and hassle-free voting for all U.S. citizens, including military and overseas voters who face unique challenges in exercising […]

The following essay was written by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat who was reelected to a second term. Prior to serving as County Clerk, Byrum represented the 67th District in the Michigan House of Representatives for three terms. She is renowned for being banned from speaking on the House floor for saying “vasectomy;” for performing what has been […]

The following guest post was written by Barb Byrum. Barb is currently the Ingham County Clerk and is a former State Representative who served three terms in Michigan House of Representatives from 2007-2012. She is currently running for re-election to serve a second term as the Clerk of Ingham County. Byrum grew up in Onondaga, Michigan, a small rural town […]

Lack of insurance coverage means many kids won’t get help for their hearing impairment, which is linked to serious risks. When it comes to advocating for important issues, Barb Byrum is a pro. The Michigan Ingham County Clerk and former state Representative is not shy about speaking out on behalf of people who may not otherwise be heard. So it’s […]

This past Wednesday during a Senate Education Committee hearing, Committee Vice Chair Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy) was discussing why some schools “fail”. During the course his comments, he made a statement that has dropped jaws across the country. “You mentioned why these schools fail,” he said. “You mention the economically disadvantaged and non-white population are contributors to that. And, you know, […]

Unsurprisingly, they failed to offer a suitable explanation. The apology women deserve does not seem to be forthcoming. After posing for a photo holding fashion magazines and insisting that they understand women, three Michigan Republicans have made no attempt to apologize for their insulting behavior. Of course, they tried to make excuses, but I don’t buy it. No one should. […]

Chapeau: doffed

2012 was a year full of politics in Michigan. As a political writer, particularly one writing from the progressive side of things, I never had a single day where there wasn’t something happening in Michigan worth writing about. We weren’t far into 2012 before I realized that women were standing up and speaking out in larger numbers and with a louder, stronger voice than any other group of people in our state. So much so that I have taken to calling 2012 the Year of Michigan Women in Politics.

Progress for Michigan

Last night, the most effective progressive action group, Progress Michigan, held their September fundraiser at the Majestic Theater in Detroit. Supporting this essential organization is critical for maintaining a positive force for political action in the state of Michigan. The progressive community knows this and their leaders showed up to demonstrate that support both financially and in person.

Photos and report after the jump.