Ingham County Prosecutor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan

8/03/2016

Ingham County Prosecutor Gretchen Whitmer

c/o Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Grady Porter Building

#4R

303 W. Kalamazoo Street

Lansing, MI  48933

Dear Prosecutor Whitmer,

My name is Matthew Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history with public policy.  In these subjects, I like to learn the need to advance on Civil Rights to help protect people who are different from being discriminated, protect the environment from pollution, have checks and balances in the criminal justice system to reduce crime while make public safety a priority, and many others. I’m writing you a letter is because I find your work as former Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate, as former Michigan State Senate from 23^rd District, and as current Ingham County prosecutor to be very inspiring to me.

When you served as Michigan State Senate from 23^rd District in 2006-2014, I liked on how you were a strong supporter of making Civil Rights stronger to help protect women, minorities, and people with disabilities from being discriminated in education and public places. Also on Civil Rights, I am very proud on how you advocated for people with disabilities’ rights, support the need for women to have equal pay to help them be protected from being discriminated based on gender, and support LGBT rights.  On the environment, I liked on how you support funding renewable energy projects (wind, solar, biofuel, and energy efficient products) to help reduce addiction to oil with gas, provide funds to clean up parks along with water including national parks to help protect them from being polluted including make them safe for people to use, and push for funds to make environmental education stronger to help educate people about the benefit of the environment.  In 2011, I was amazed on how you made history by becoming the first woman to serve as Democratic Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate.  In your role as Democratic Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate,  I was very proud on how you pushed for anti-bullying legislation to help protect students or people who are different from different forms of harassments by providing counseling in schools with educational awareness about the need to reduce bullying. Another thing is that I liked about your work as Democratic Minority Leader on the Michigan Senate was on how you were a vocal supporter of women’s right to choose  and support funds for women’s health care to help them get the care they need when another political party got too extreme or tried to restrict their rights. In your current role as Ingham County Prosecutor, I am very proud on how you continue your core values like advocate for people with disabilities’ rights, prosecute people who commit hate-crime on people who are different, push for treatment programs to help victims of crime or victims of domestic violence get the help they need, and support women’s rights.

Prosecutor Whitmer, I have Autism with a learning disability. Having Autism is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects especially new things, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased. Your commitment to be a strong supporter of Civil Rights, be an advocate for people with disabilities’ rights, prosecute people who commit hate-crimes, and push for anti-bullying legislation really inspires me to work hard on my disability along with being confident to work hard when I face different challenges. Your role in these positions motivates me to continue to be interested in learning history. My future goal is to someday teach history to help emphasize the need to make Civil rights stronger, a strong need to make the criminal justice system work for the people including their civil liberties while reduce crime, and many others.  My letter and a picture of me  is a gift to you for inspiring me and as a gift for your birthday August 23^rd .

I strongly believe that you made a great difference in making society and Michigan a better place. Prosecutor Whitmer, you have made a great impact on me to work hard on my disability when there are challenges and to continue my interest in learning history. I was wondering if you could share with me what it was like serving in the Michigan legislature.  Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference, and inspiring me. I wish you well to continue to make a great difference for society and Michigan.

Sincerely,

Matthew B. Winick