Laurie Stupak To Focus on Mackinac State Historic Parks’ Heritage, Traditions, Culture
New Park Commissioner Promotes Northern Michigan’s Beauty

When Laurie Stupak was appointed to a six-year term of the Mackinac State Historic Park Commission by Governor Jennifer Granholm last week, she did not know she was helping to make commission history by changing the composition of the board to a majority of women.

Her focus is not on making history, rather she holds a vision of working to maintain what already is a part of Michigan history.

“I’ll be a strong advocate for preserving the parks’ heritage, traditions, and beauty,” she said while attending her first commission meeting last Friday, May 27.

Mrs. Stupak was born and reared in the Upper Peninsula and is the former mayor of Menominee. She said she and her husband, U.S. Congress-man Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), always look for an opportunity to advertise the stunning natural landscape found in Michigan, and particularly Northern Michigan.

She often says, “We are fortunate because Bart has the most beautiful district in the United States.”

Those remarks didn’t go unnoticed last year when the couple was able to introduce several members of the British Parliament to Mackinac Island.

“They were awestruck by the beauty here and several said they would come back with their families,” Mrs. Stupak said.

Right now, maintaining the historic sites comprising Mackinac State Historic Parks and addressing the $1.5 million state funding cut from the 2006 budget heads Mrs. Stupak’s agenda, and that of the rest of the commission.

“The parks are important to the state’s tourism, education, and history,” she said. “I would hate to see them go into a state of disrepair. This is not a partisan issue, and I encourage the legislature to work with the governor in a bipartisan manner to either restore the appropriations to the budget or reach agreement on an alternative funding method.”