TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - William G. Milliken, Michigan’s longest-serving governor who established a record of environmental conservation and bipartisan co-operation that made him popular among Republicans and Democrats, died Friday at age 97, a family spokesman said. The Republican was promoted to governor from lieutenant governor in 1969 when Gov. Milliken subsequently won three elections but didn’t run again in 1982, retiring from politics after 14 years as Michigan’s chief executive. He endorsed Democrats Barack Obama and John Kerry for president and some other Democrats seeking statewide office in Michigan. “He’s not relevant any longer,” Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak said in 2014, shrugging off the endorsements.

Source: thestar October 18, 2019 22:20 UTC