Candidates for Secretary of State, Ed Board Will Speak to Livingston Dems

Livingston County Democrats will hear from candidates for important statewide positions at the party’s February meeting.

Former Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli will speak about her run for Michigan Secretary of State while State Board of Education members Judy Pritchet and Tiffany Tilley also will speak about their campaigns.

The meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Judy and Tiffany will speak near the beginning of the meeting and Suzanna will speak after 8 p.m. due to a scheduling conflict.

The meeting will be on Zoom. To receive the link, sign up here. https://forms.gle/LU7PJkZa3qymDDpD7

Suzanna is familiar to some Livingston County residents, having run for the 8^th Congressional District seat in 2016.

Born in Livonia and raised in Farmington Hills and then Clarkston, Suzanna is a first-generation American of Albanian heritage.

Her parents came to the United States as children to escape authoritarianism in the former Yugoslavia and to build a better life here in Michigan.

She worked in the family restaurant while growing up, went to law school, and then became an assistant prosecuting attorney for Macomb County where she served for eight years, with half that time in the Child Protection Unit.

In 2019, Suzanna was appointed Deputy Legal Counsel in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, In 2021, Governor Whitmer appointed her as Michigan’s Child Advocate. In 2023, she served as the state’s Director of Juvenile Justice Reform within the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2024, she became Commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery.

Judy Pritchett has served on the State Board of Education since 2018.

Judy served as an educator and administrator for over 25 years in public education serving many communities in Macomb County including Utica Community Schools, Mount Clemens Community Schools, and Center Line Public Schools.  She has worked as a High School Social Studies teacher, a High School Principal, an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Superintendent of Schools.  Prior to her retirement in 2017 she held the position of Chief Academic Officer for the Macomb Intermediate School District.  She is still very active in assisting with educational policy and advocating for equitable opportunities for all students in the state.

Tiffany is a native Detroiter who was elected to the board in 2018. She has worked in education, real estate development, community and economic development, in city government, and in nonprofit agencies. Through her community work she has managed and opened the doors for millions of dollars to help communities in Southeastern Michigan.

Tiffany is co-vice president of the board. She has used the position to push for more equitable school funding, early childhood education, mental health support, and more.

Michigan Democrats will endorse their candidates for secretary of state and the State Board of Education at their April 19 nominating convention. You must be a party member for at least 30 days to vote at the convention. To have a say on the party’s nominees for these important posts, activate your paper membership here. https://michigandems.com/join/