Robert VanderLaan
5th Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate
In office
1971–1974
Preceded byEmil Lockwood
Succeeded byMilton Zaagman
Member of the Michigan Senate
In office
January 1, 1963  December 31, 1982
Preceded byCharles R. Feenstra
Succeeded byDick Posthumus
Constituency17th district (1963–1964)
31st district (1965–1982)
Personal details
Born(1930-06-04)June 4, 1930
Paris Township, Michigan
DiedNovember 1, 2015(2015-11-01) (aged 85)
Political partyRepublican

Robert "Robbie" VanderLaan (c. 1930-November 1, 2015[1]) was a former majority leader of the Michigan State Senate.[2] A Republican, he ran to replace Gerald Ford as representative for Michigan's 5th congressional district in a 1974 special election, but was defeated by Democrat Richard Vander Veen. It was seen as a stunning upset; VanderLaan had previously never lost an election and the district had long been considered a Republican stronghold. He served in the Senate for 20 years in total; after retirement he joined Democrat Bobby Crim in forming a lobbying firm; he also had a career as a lawyer.[3]

References


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