Pictured is Stephen Adamini. (Mining Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Stephen Adamini, longtime Democrat and member of the Marquette County Board of Commissioners who resigned the position in late March citing, among other things, health, has died.

According to multiple reports including the Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Adamini, 81, died Wednesday morning. Whitmer, who served with Adamini in the State Legislature, issued the following statement online.

“Steve Adamini was one of my dear friends from my time in the legislature. I always gravitated toward the Yoopers: smart, funny and down to earth. Steve embodied all of these characteristics and so much more,” she wrote. “He was a great friend, insightful and thoughtful legislator and downright fun to be around. He dedicated much of his life to the underdog. He served his community with gusto and cooked fantastic Italian dinners for his friends. His kids and grand kids are in my thoughts”

Adamini had been a practicing attorney since 1970, He was the senior member of the law firm Kendricks, Bordeau, Adamini, Chilman & Greenlee, P.C. in Marquette and had served on the Michigan Transportation Commission from 1987 to 1991 and on the Michigan Law Revision Commission. Locally, he chaired the Marquette County Airport Board, served on the Alger-Marquette Community Mental Health Board and served as the city attorney for the city of Marquette.

A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Adamini was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2000 and served through 2006. In February 2007, he was appointed by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Northern Michigan University board, where he stayed until December 2014.

On the county board of commissioners, he represented commission district 3, which includes Marquette Township and precinct 1 of the city of Marquette.