MARI MANOOGIAN CALLING
As state Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills) enters the final few months of her second term in Lansing, her future seems to be fair game for speculation among members of both political parties following her decision this past spring to not seek a third term in the House. When she first was elected to the 40th district House seat in 2018, she was considered one of the potential rising stars in the party. Prior to entering the halls of the Capitol, she had interned in the office of Congressman John Dingell and the U.S. Department of State. She was even featured as one of 17 keynote speakers at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. But a legal skirmish last year involving a court order of protection following a soured relationship with a Republican colleague from Macomb County seemed to send her standing down hill in the state House, including with some members or her own party who she had dissed in texts exchanged with him that were made public in court proceedings. Some say that the messy relationship break-up and the derogatory texts about fellow Democrats basically means finding an appointment in Lansing when this year ends is out of the question. Rumor has it that Manoogian is hoping to find some employment in the administration of President Joe Biden. She has been spending some time in Washington D.C., including being present for the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act on September 13 at the White House. But a possible soft landing there must not be that realistic because we hear her resume has been circulating of late for possible jobs in Michigan and in Oakland County.