Community Corner
First woman Brigadier General in MI National Guard launches run for State Rep
Carol Ann Fausone, the first woman to earn the rank of Brigadier General in the Michigan National Guard, has announced her candidacy for State Representative in Michigan’s 21st District, which encompasses Canton, Belleville, and Van Buren.
“I served my country for 36 years in the Air Force and in the National Guard as a Citizen Soldier, and now I want to continue to give back and serve my community as a Citizen Legislator,” Fausone said. Fausone, who is running on the Republican ticket, also noted that she is not a career-politician, and that is one of her greatest strengths.
“The people of Canton, Belleville, and Van Buren deserve a representative who will serve with integrity, and who will listen to their issues and work with them toward solving those issues,” Fausone added, “I’m excited to go to work and do just that.”
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Fausone served as the assistant adjutant general of veterans' affairs for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs from 2003 to 2011. With a bachelors in nursing from the University of Michigan and a Masters from Madonna University, she was also the first Michigan medical officer to achieve the rank of a general officer.
The 21st district’s seat will be a target race in 2014, and Fausone has jumped out to a fast start. Already, former State Senator Bruce Patterson and State Senator Patrick Colbeck have endorsed her candidacy.
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“Carol Ann will serve with honesty and integrity, and that’s what I look for when I want someone to represent me,” Patterson said of Fausone, “She has the most experience, a track-record of leadership, and she is undoubtedly the right person for the job.”
Fausone and her husband, Jim Fausone, live in Canton and are active in a variety of community organizations. Currently, Fausone sits on the Madonna University Board of Trustees, in addition to running her own small business, The Veteran Advocate, LLC.
She also works with her husband, a lawyer, at Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC. The two businesses provide legal and consulting aid to veterans and their families.
According to Fausone’s husband, she is known as the CFO – “Chief Fix-it Officer” – at work. “I know she will bring that fix-it mentality and work ethic for the people of our community,” said Fausone’s husband.
“We have always been there to support one another. I’m so proud of what Carol Ann has accomplished already, and I’m excited to be by her side on this campaign,” Fausone’s husband added.
