Dominic J. Jacobetti papers

The son of an Italian immigrant miner, Dominic Jacobetti was born in Negaunee, Michigan on July 20, 1920 to Nicholas and Josephine (Sano) Jacobetti. He graduated from St. Paul's High School in 1938 and went to work in the Athens Mine in 1940. He eventually became President of UAW Local 4950 and United Steel Workers Local 2867. He married Marie Burnette in 1942 and had three children: Judith, Colin and Dominic, Jr. He was elected to office in 1953, and began his 40 years as Representative in 1954 until his death in 1994. Throughout his career, he served on the following committees: in 1955-56, on the Conservation, Educational Institutions and Tuberculosis Hospitals Committees; from 1957-58, on the Conservation and Fish and Fisheries Committees; 1959-60, on the Educational Institutions Committee; 1963-64, on the Conservation Committee; 1965-66 on the House Policy Committee; 1967-68, on the House Policy and State Affairs Committees; and from 1969 to 1993 he served on the Appropriations Committee, as Vice Chair beginning in 1969, and as Chair of this committee beginning in 1975.

Because of funding Jacobetti obtained for projects in the Upper Peninsula, his constituents and colleagues regarded him as "Puga," "King Jake," and the "Godfather of the U.P." However, he also helped various "down-state" areas obtain the funding they needed as well. Keeping in mind that Jacobetti often considered the entire Upper Peninsula as part of his District, he promoted the interest of industry (sometimes at the expense of the environment), strove to improve educational opportunities, and worked hard to improve economic conditions for both the State and his District.

Jacobetti was also known as "a man of the people" and "the working man's Representative." This characterization is demonstrated in his correspondence and among the many testimonials and awards he has received, wherein he frequently intervened personally on behalf of individuals and organizations both in the Upper Peninsula and down-state. He was honored as one of the "Ten Outstanding State Legislators in the United States" in 1978 for promoting adequate staffing levels in governmental offices, promoting good government and efficient public service, as Upper Peninsula Person of the Year and received The Distinguished Citizens award from Lake Superior State College in 1983, an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Northern Michigan University in 1984, and Good Neighbor of the Year in 1990.

Jacobetti involved himself in state-wide as well as local issues. State-wide issues include abortion/right to life, insurance reform, seat belt legislation, sobriety check lanes and tax limitation. Issues considered to be State level that pertained more specifically to the Upper Peninsula include a nuclear waste dump site, ELF/Seafarer Sanguine, and the effort to make the Upper Peninsula into the fifty-first state, Superior.

Included in his political agenda were the following, which are also considered to be some of his accomplishments:

Ø Programs to provide maximum job opportunities throughout Michigan, but especially in the Upper Peninsula;

Ø Educational programs at all levels from K-12 to higher education, with emphasis on adult and special education and Vo-Tech Programs;

Ø Encouraged and supported programs in law enforcement and the judicial system to provide equal protection under the law for all citizens;

Ø Cooperated with and assisted the Michigan Veterans Service Organizations to insure maximum benefits from Federal and State programs;

Ø Actively engaged in the development of immediate and long-range plans to improve highway, rail, water and air transportation in the State;

Ø Supported social programs to provide an improved quality of life for senior citizens, the indigent, those with catastrophic diseases, and to provide fair and equitable pension plans for both the public and private employees of Michigan;

Ø Encouraged and helped create fair and equitable tax legislation for all citizens and businesses in Michigan to insure a healthy, stable economy in Michigan;

Ø Supported multiple land-use plans for the maximum wise use of lands;

Ø Encouraged and supported equal treatment for all citizens, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, ethnic background or age in all aspects of employment, social or economic opportunities.