MARQUETTE - An appreciative crowd packed the Great Lakes Rooms Saturday at Northern Michigan University for an Upper Peninsula Tribute to Bart and Laurie Stupak.
Former U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, who represented the U.P. in Washington for 18 years and is participating in an eight-week teaching fellowship at Harvard's Institute of Politics in Cambridge, Mass., and his wife, who served as Menominee's mayor from February 1996 until December 2003, were the focus of good deal of praise during the event organized to thank them for more than 30 years of public service.
Numerous dignitaries were among the crowd, including Marquette Mayor John Kivela, former state Sen. Mike Prusi, D-Ishpeming, and Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, who ran last fall in hopes of winning the 1st Congressional District seat Stupak announced in April he would vacate.
"You've been a tremendous help to all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula," Marquette County Board member Gerald Corkin said.
Corkin, former chairman of the county board, said when it was announced the Sawyer Air Force Base would close, Stupak said he would stand by the county's side and he's still doing that.
Cliffs Natural Resources spokesman Dale Hemmila gave Stupak a decorative clock as a keepsake.
"I don't know what I'm doing giving a retired guy a clock," Hemmila joked.
He praised Stupak for his work in Congress on behalf of the local region, which is steeped in a history rich in iron mining.
"He's probably one of the best friends the iron industry ever had in Washington, D.C.," Hemmila said.
Marquette school board President Tony Retaskie said Stupak maintained a 100 percent rating with the National Education Association.
"Bart has always supported policies and programs that have supported higher education," Retaskie said.
Speakers representing the Michigan work force, Delta and Marquette counties Democratic parties and others were among additional well-wishers who lauded the efforts of the former representative and the dedicated work of his wife to stand behind him and also campaign to help fellow Democrats.
Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer said he had been at a National Democratic Party meeting in Washington Saturday and was told by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to extend thanks and appreciation to Stupak.
Brewer said each election cycle, state Democrats could expect well-organized efforts from the Stupaks to campaign in the U.P. Brewer thanked the couple for "How much we've been able to count on them over the years."
NMU President Les Wong said Obama's recent visit to Marquette actually had its genesis a few years ago when Wong asked Stupak for help with securing an Educational Broadband Service license from the Federal Communications Commission to develop the university's WiMAX communications program.
Wong said 45 days after talking with Stupak, the FCC chairman was in Wong's office. Three days after that, Wong was invited to Washington to discuss securing a temporary license, which was awarded within 60 days. The university was later granted a permanent license. All of these primary developments set up this month's visit by President Obama, Wong said.
"At the core and the very beginning of that process was Congressman Bart Stupak," Wong said.
Wong also praised Stupak's support of the U.S. Olympic Education Center at NMU.
"I don't know of a person who's been more tireless helping our student athletes," Wong said.
Before the speakers, the Stupaks stood in a reception line, greeting attendees and posing for pictures. Many of the guests took the time to look at displays set up in the room showcasing Stupak memorabilia.
Stupak said has not ruled out a return to politics one day, but not until after taking a break of at least four years. A former attorney and state police trooper, Stupak said other endeavors he might pursue include working as a consultant or offering legal advice to a national issues project. Stupak expects to continue to endorse Democratic candidates and campaign on their behalf.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His e-mail address is jpepin@miningjournal.net.
