Bob Alexander Understands Our Need For Change in Washington

Bob Alexander was born on October 31, 1944, and grew up in Berkley, Michigan. Our troops were bravely serving in World War II, and the anxiety of the Cold War hung over the nation. Americans were installing bomb shelters in their back yards, and children in schools were practicing "duck and cover" in case of a nuclear attack.

John Kennedy came into office during Bob's teenage years, calling America to "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Families gathered around their televisions watching each space launch. Our heroes were Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and all the U.S. astronauts who carried our hopes into space. Bob's parents were part of the "greatest generation", and he learned that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can do well and provide a good life for your family. His father served in the Navy during World War II, building destroyers in Nashville, Tennessee. Before and after his service, Bob Alexander, Sr., was a commercial refrigeration engineer and then director of commercial refrigeration for Kelvinator in Detroit. His father taught Bob patriotism, community involvement and fiscal responsibility. From his mother Dorothy, he learned a strong sense of justice, the need for education and the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed.

In 1966, Bob Alexander received a B.A. in American history from the University of Michigan. After graduation he joined the Peace Corps as an adviser in an intensive agricultural program that raised the quality of life in rural India. This work profoundly influenced him and ignited his career. To this day, Bob is known as a tireless organizer and problem solver, building coalitions to help improve all of our lives.

Upon his return from the Peace Corps, Bob joined the National Teacher Corps. He interned and then taught at Hopkinsville Junior High in Kentucky, then at Webster Elementary and Earhart Junior High in southwest Detroit. In 1970, Bob earned his M.A. in teaching from Wayne State University. He taught for five years in the Willow Run Community Schools in Ypsilanti and substituted at Whitmore Lake, Hamburg and Pinckney Schools.

In 1979, Bob started working for State Senators Edward Pierce and Lana Pollack in Lansing. Bob was a Policy Analyst for the state Energy Programs and Medical Services. In 2000, Bob Alexander became Assistant to the Director of Citizens for Better Care, advocating for Nursing Home residents. In 2003, he returned to his roots in education teaching at Davenport University and subsituted in the Lansing Schools. During this period, Bob also worked on programs for international humanitarian relief.

Currently, Bob owns and runs Alexander Consultants, L.L.C., a governmental and business management consulting firm in East Lansing. Bob’s recent successes include co-directing a local petition drive that helped raise Michigan’s minimum wage by 29% and extending the Ingham Health Care Plan to cover 16,500 additional Ingham County residents who did not have health care.

Bob and his wife, Julie, live in East Lansing and enjoy in an active life dedicated to helping people. Julie is an administrator in the State Human Services program. They have three adult children, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.