Senator Patty Birkholz

State Senator Patricia L. Birkholz, a Saugatuck Township Republican, is in her second term as the Senator for the 24th District (Allegan, Barry and Eaton Counties). Patty chairs the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. serves on the Local, Urban and State Affairs Committee as Vice Chair, and the Agriculture Committee and the Energy Policy Committee. Birkholz is the Michigan Representative to the Great Lakes Commission, and the founder and chair of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus.

Prior to her election to the Senate, Patty served for three terms in the House of Representatives. She was re-elected Speaker Pro-Tempore and appointed by Republican Speaker Rick Johnson to the Local Government and Urban Policy, Land Use and Environment, and Energy and Technology committees.

Patty was selected as a BILLD Fellow at the Bowhay Legislative Leadership Institute in 1997, named "Rookie of the Year" by the Michigan Manufacturers Association in 1998 and received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Michigan Municipal League in 1998. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan and received Business Direct Weekly's Most Influential Woman Award both in 1999. Patty was named a "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federal of Independent Business in 2000 and received the Michigan Society of Planning Outstanding Planning and Land Use Leadership Award in 2001. The Michigan Township Association named Patty "Legislator of the Year Award" in 2001. In 2002, Patty was recognized by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Award for Promoting New Approaches to Land Use, named one of the "50 Most Influential Women in Western Michigan in 2002" by the Grand Rapids Business Journal; was named Michigan Association of Regions Outstanding Legislator, and received the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan "CED Advocate of the Year" award. In 2003, Senator Birkholz was named Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Recreation and Park Association. She received the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Environmental Leadership Award in 2004 for leadership in forming the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus of Legislators, was named Michigan United Conservation Clubs Legislative Conservationist of the Year for 2004, and Legislator of the Year for 2004 by the Michigan Manufacturers Association. Patty received the Fight Crime-Invest in Kids Legislator of the Year for 2005 award, along with the DADS and MOMS of Michigan 2005 Legislator of the Year award, the Alliance for the Great Lakes 2005 Great Lakes Ally of the Year Policy Award, and the Michigan Environmental Health Association Distinguished Service Award for 2005. In 2006, Patty was recognized for "Dedication to Land Use Issues" by the Michigan Council of Foundations Land Use Funders and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Award for Legislative Conservationist of the Year. In 2003, 2006 and 2008 Patty received the prestigious Michigan Farm Bureau Silver Plow Award. In 2008, Birkholz was selected by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan's 50 most influential women and received the Heroes of Breast Cancer Leadership Award from the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Senator Birkholz chaired the Midwest Legislative Council of the Council of State Governments from 2006 to 2007.

Birkholz has been active in several community organizations, including service as President of Allegan Rotary, the Michigan State Parks Advisory Board and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Parks Foundation.

Birkholz began her career as a teacher in the Ottawa County Head Start program. She has served as the Allegan County Treasurer, on the district staff of U.S. Congressman Fred Upton, was a Saugatuck Township Treasurer, Trustee and Park and Recreation Commission member.

She has a B.S. degree from Western Michigan University.

Senator Patty Birkholz can be contacted by clicking here.