Michigan Attorney General-elect Dana Nessel has recruited a team of experts to assist her with the transition as she prepares to take office as Michigan’s 55th Attorney General on Jan. 1, 2019, according to a Nov. 13 press release.
Top on the list is long-time former Attorney General Frank Kelley, who served as Michigan’s AG for 37 years—the longest serving Attorney General in U.S. history. Mike Hodge and Kelly Keenan, from Mr. Kelley’s administration, were also named.
“I’m honored to have the wisdom, the experience and the candor of Mr. Kelley as I prepare to take office,” said Nessel in a press release. “His leadership is invaluable to me, to the office and to the residents of Michigan.”
Nessel also brought Sault Tribe Chairperson Aaron Payment onboard. He has participated in state-tribal court forums, worked on state certification of tribal law enforcement officers and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act, hosted the US Attorney’s annual meeting with the Sault Tribe and acted as the Tribal Judicial Branch Division Director.
“I believe in the rule of law to protect all citizens,” Payment said. “This means ensuring there are no holes in civil and criminal jurisdiction. Through open dialog, on going communication and articulation of mutual aid agreements and judicial MOU’s, we can ensure the safety and due process of all. I am happy to serve on AG Nessel’s transition team in an advisory capacity.”
Nessel said they are to prepared to hit the ground running. “Together we will work closely with the current AG’s team to ensure a smooth transition and set up an effective Office of the Attorney General so that on Day One we can get right to work for the people of the state of Michigan,” said said. “There are tens of thousands of cases pending before the Attorney General and this team will closely look at the status of those cases and others the Attorney General-elect my want to pursue. This will be a careful, methodical review to ensure a smooth transition between administrations.”
Rounding out Nessel’s transition team are: Marseille Allen with UAW 6000, Traverse City environmental lawyer Tracy Andrews, Okemos lawyer Robert Baldori, Ms. Nessel’s campaign manager Alexandra Borngesser, former Wayne County general counsel Zenna Faraj Elhasan, Detroit lawyer and former Michigan Democratic Party co-chair Butch Hollowell, Grand Rapids lawyer Traci Kornack, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tribal Chairperson Aaron Payment, former Truscott-Rossman CEO and Senate candidate Kelly Rossman-McKinney and Dearborn City Councilmember Michael Sarenini.