Pollack, Lana, 1942-

Lana Pollack served as state senator for Michigan's Eighteenth District from 1982 to 1994. Born near Ludington, Michigan, on October 11, 1942, she grew up in Ludington and attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1965, and a Master of Arts in Education in 1970. It was not until the late 1960s that Pollack became active in politics as a volunteer worker for the Ann Arbor Democratic Party.

After years of substitute teaching and working on other candidates' campaigns, she successfully ran for the Ann Arbor Board of Education in 1979. The quality of her work as a Board member led to a landslide victory when she ran for state Senate in 1982.

Major issues which came to be associated with Pollack were family and women's rights concerns, anti-pollution legislation, support for the arts, and tax equity. She organized a bi-partisan statewide coalition to discourage teenage pregnancy called the Campaign to Promote Responsibility, as well as the Gun Violence Coalition, which was an education and pro-gun control effort.

In 1988 Pollack ran for Congress against Republican incumbent Carl Purcell. She lost, but proved to be a strong campaigner and prodigious fundraiser. This gave her the confidence to run for a vacant United States Senate seat in 1994; she finished second to Congressman Bob Carr. Since she had given up her senate seat to run federally, Pollack moved on to a new career in 1995 when she helped found Michigan Monthly magazine.

Lana Pollack served as state senator for Michigan's Eighteenth District from 1982 to 1994. A liberal Democrat, Pollack earned a reputation as an outspoken and hardworking legislator.

Pollack was born near Ludington, Michigan on October 11, 1942; her parents ran a grocery and butcher shop. She grew up in Ludington and attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1965, and a Master of Arts in Education in 1970. While she was working on her degrees, she married geology professor Henry Pollack and had two children. It was not until the late 1960s that Pollack became active in politics as a volunteer worker for the Ann Arbor Democratic Party. During this period of her life, Pollack's first priority was her family rather than politics. She accompanied her husband on sabbaticals in Africa and England, and travelled widely during the 1970s.

Another high priority for Pollack during the 1970s was to work as a teacher, but she was unable to find a permanent position; after years of substitute teaching and working on other candidates' campaigns, she successfully ran for the Ann Arbor Board of Education in 1979. The quality of her work as a Board member led to a landslide victory when she ran for state Senate in 1982. This was especially impressive since Michigan's Senate had been an all-male institution for twenty-two years prior to Pollack's election.

Major issues which came to be associated with Pollack were family and women's rights concerns, anti-pollution legislation, support for the arts, and tax equity. She organized a bi-partisan statewide coalition to discourage teenage pregnancy called the Campaign to Promote Responsibility, as well as the Gun Violence Coalition, which was an education and pro-gun control effort.

In 1988 Pollack ran for Congress against Republican incumbent Carl Pursell. She lost, but proved to be a strong campaigner and prodigious fundraiser. This gave her the confidence to run for a vacant United States Senate seat in 1994; in a tough primary, she finished second to Congressman Bob Carr. In spite of a successful fundraising effort and endorsements by prominent Democrats and labor leaders, Pollack could not match Carr's financial backing. Since she had given up her senate seat to run federally, Pollack moved on to a new career in 1995 when she helped found Michigan Monthly magazine.

In 1998 Pollack helped found Save Our Land, Save Our Future (SOLSOF) to support Washtenaw County’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) proposal, which was intended to protect farmland and open space in Washtenaw County.. She also served as chair of the campaign committee. Opposition to the proposal was led by Washtenaw Citizens for Responsible Growth. Following the rejection of the proposal she returned to her work with the Michigan Environmental Council. After she retired from his position in 2008, she continued her involvement with environmental issues in Michigan by leading protests related to the conversion of Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor. She also served on the board of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.