Dick Posthumus

Dick Posthumus
Posthumus in 2002
61st Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1999 – January 1, 2003
Governor	John Engler
Preceded by	Connie Binsfeld
Succeeded by	John Cherry
Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate
In office January 1, 1991 – January 1, 1999
Preceded by	John Engler
Succeeded by	Dan DeGrow
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 31st district
In office January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1999
Preceded by	Robert VanderLaan
Succeeded by	Ken Sikkema
Personal details
Born	Richard Posthumus (1950-07-19) July 19, 1950 Alto, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Pam Bartz ​ ​ (m. 1972; died 2010)​ Beth Mihlethaler ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	4, including Bryan and Lisa
Education	Michigan State University (BA)

Richard Posthumus (/ˈpɑːstjuːməs/; born July 19, 1950) is an American businessman, and politician. He was the 61st lieutenant governor of Michigan and majority leader of the Michigan Senate. In 2002, he was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Governor of Michigan.

Biography

Posthumus grew up on a dairy farm in Alto, Michigan, outside of Grand Rapids. He graduated from Michigan State University, during which he served as chairman of the College Republicans and as a vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.

In 1971, he managed the successful Michigan House of Representatives campaign of fellow student and future Michigan governor John Engler. Posthumus was elected to the Senate in 1982 and became majority leader in 1990, when Engler was elected governor. His 1982 campaign was managed by Saul Anuzis. Posthumus was the longest serving majority leader in the history of the Senate.

Posthumus joined Engler on as his running mate and candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998 and went on to serve in that post for four years. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2002, having defeated Joe Schwarz in the Republican primary, but lost to Democrat Jennifer Granholm in the general election. He joined Compatico in 2005 and became the chief executive officer in 2006.

On November 8, 2010, Governor-elect Rick Snyder named Posthumus to be his senior adviser and legislative lobbyist.

Personal life

Posthumus married Pamela "Pam" (née Bartz) in 1972. They had four children together, and seven grandchildren. Pam died of cancer on August 18, 2010. Posthumus married Beth Ann (née Mihlethaler) Fogg on September 24, 2011. Dick's son, Bryan, is a Michigan state representative, and advocate for Alcoholic's Anonymous and Dick's daughter, Lisa, is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Electoral history

• 2002 election for Governor
  • Jennifer Granholm (D), 51%
  • Dick Posthumus (R), 47%
• 2002 election for Governor – Republican Primary
  • Dick Posthumus (R), 81%
  • Joe Schwarz (R), 19%

See also

• List of Michigan state legislatures

References

• Appearances on C-SPAN