Meet Representative Brenda Carter

I am the 5th of 13 children. My parents, John and Mary, raised their family in Detroit, where I graduated from high school. Later I attended several local universities. I have a Bachelor's degree in business administration and a Master's degree in public administration. I joined the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in 1975, where I held various local, state, and national positions. In 1997 I, along with Phile' Chionesu and Asia Coney, organized the now historic Million Woman March. My involvement with the Million Woman March and the Elks spurred me on a speaking tour around the globe, and eventually, I returned to the United States. It was at one such speaking engagement that I opened for a young Senator from Illinois. In 2008, that young Senator, Barack H. Obama would become the first African American President of the United States of America.

In 1998, I moved to Pontiac, Michigan, where I immediately began working throughout the community. I have a long history of public service. I spent eight years on the Pontiac School District's Board of Education. In Michigan's legislature, I represent Auburn Hills, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, Orchard Lake Village, and Pontiac communities. I serve on three committees, Education, Family Children and Seniors, and Insurance. I had two bills, HB 4550 and HB 5148 signed into law. I created five task force groups in my district. These task force groups are Education, Veterans Fan out, Poverty and Homelessness, Minority Health, and Criminal Justice reform. As a result of my work with the Poverty and Homelessness Task Force, I founded and co-chaired the Poverty and Homelessness Caucus, bi-partisan and bi-cameral.

I am the first woman to represent House District 29.  I am married to Pontiac City Council Protem Randy Carter. I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Pontiac Alumnae Chapter, and a member of the New Mount Moriah International Church.