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MIGG Stories The magic of Marge Malarney

The Magic of Marge Malarney

Nell Kuhnmuench weaves a remarkable story about how Marge Malarney ascended the often-unsteady Michigan Capitol ladder to become a legendary and highly regarded lobbyist for the city of Detroit for over 20 years. Intelligence, knowledge of the process, and flat-out hard work were all at play. This was at a time when women had to double prove they could do the job.

Sometimes there is a sprinkling of awe and awareness in the world that seems to overtake one as magic might do. That summarizes the experience of getting to know a remarkable, accomplished woman whose presence around the Michigan Capitol for many years was nothing less than astonishing.

At a time in Michigan when political power was fairly well balanced and there was a largely bi-partisan commitment to moving policy forward for the betterment of the citizens of the state, an unlikely player evolved in the still somewhat nascent world of lobbying. That individual established the powerful role of lobbyist for the city of Detroit – at the time, the largest city in Michigan.

Adding yet another layer to the unique arrival of this lobbyist, the individual was a woman who was born and raised in west Michigan’s Allegan County and had not, as a child, lived around nor known people of color.

Growing up, Marge Malareney did not aspire to be a lobbyist nor even to work at the Capitol. She had received her education in business school. She came to Lansing as the new bride of T.J. Malarney, with a 9-year-old son from an earlier marriage. Staying at home did not suit her since she had been working outside the home for years. As for her son, typical for his age, he wanted to spend his time outside of school with his buddies, not with his mom.

The first position Marge held in the Lansing community was as chief of staff to the then director of personnel at Michigan State University. When he heard of an opportunity at the state Capitol, working in the Senate, he suggested to Marge she should apply, since she would be making better money there.

Subsequently, Marge was hired by state Sen. John McCauley, a Grosse Ile Democrat. She then lost that position, without her knowledge, when the senator agreed to give her job to another staffer in order to secure the support of that staffer’s boss, another state senator, on an issue. Fortunately, yet another senator, from the opposite political party, gave Marge a job. Shortly after she began working for him, state Sen. Coleman Young (D-Detroit) asked Marge to work for him. Her newest employer was comfortable with that change, though Young was not of his political party.

When Marge interviewed with Young he had but one question for her, “How will your husband feel about you working for a Black man?”

Startled, Marge responded that her husband was far more liberal than she was, and she was quite liberal. While she had grown up in Allegan County, she had lived a couple of years in California and had learned more about people and diversity than she had previously encountered. Her husband was delighted with the opportunity for Marge. Through the years, the Youngs and T.J. became fast friends.

At the time Marge began with Young, she was one of four staff persons working for four different senators of the same political party, within a single office. The four senators also shared a house in Lansing. Marge was given the responsibility of keeping the books for the house expenses evenly and fairly attributed to each of the four – a challenging task as they would argue over everything, even who drank the most milk from the bottle in the refrigerator.

The house Marge and T.J. owned at that time, on Cumberland Road in Lansing, soon became “party central.” Friendships were made there, outside of the Capitol and without regard to political party. Most certainly those relationships carried over into the work that was accomplished in the legislative process.

Marge worked for Young as his secretary and legislative aide for 14 years. Then, Sen. Young decided to run for mayor of Detroit in 1973. Marge would spend time in Detroit that fall with Young’s buddies strategizing on the campaign. Narrowly defeating the former police commissioner, Young became the first African American to serve as mayor of Detroit, beginning in 1974.

When he assumed the position of mayor, he expected Marge to join him in Detroit. Marge had other plans. She and T.J. had been waiting for 3 ½ years to adopt a baby, and they were soon to have that opportunity. Since Young would not interfere in Marge and T.J. growing their family, he did not immediately hire Marge, though he saw to it that she had a part-time position at the Capitol.

One of the promises Mayor Young had made on the campaign trail was to have a full-time person in Lansing taking care of the Detroit’s needs. Initially, he hired Jimmy Karoub, a former state representative turned multi-client lobbyist, to assume that role. When a conflict arose between another Karoub client and the city, they parted ways. Detroit then hired Tom Downs, a lawyer and lobbyist. Throughout the duration of these contracts, Mayor Young continued to call Marge and ask for her advice. Marge was working two days a week at the Senate and had her finger on the pulse of legislative activity.

When Tom Downs did not work out as hoped, the city hired as its lobbyist John Swainson, the former governor and Michigan Supreme Court justice. The Detroit City Council reluctantly approved that contract, insisting that Swainson not appear on its behalf at the Capitol because he had a criminal record.

By this time, Marge was working for the city. When Swainson could not go to the Capitol, Mayor Young directed Marge to meet with Swainson weekly and learn what he knew and recommended. Then Marge was to discuss that analysis with Young and together they would determine the best approach.

After a year, Swainson moved on. Marge was rattled at the thought Mayor Young would hire yet another person who would rely on Marge for her expertise and abilities. T.J. encouraged Marge to meet with Young and tell him she wanted the job. Marge was not confident about that. Nonetheless, T.J. persisted. His sage advice was to prepare her “ask,” to state it clearly and then just be quiet. If there was a silence, she not only did not need to fill it, she should not, T.J. advised.

With trepidation, Marge met with Mayor Young. After some pleasantries, he asked if there was a reason for her visit. She replied, yes, that after 3 ½ years, she should be given the position of lobbyist for the city.

Young was slow to respond. Marge held her tongue, despite the urge to “fill the silence.” Then, the mayor said, “What took you so long? I wanted you to do this from day one, but I had to wait until you knew you could do it.”

Then they talked compensation, and he offered her half of what he had paid the prior lobbyist. Marge replied she should make exactly what he had made. Mayor Young responded by saying he would pay her 75% of what the city had been paying and would escrow the other 25% to be given to her once she proved herself. The pay was at 100% parity within a year!

Marge Malarney quickly assumed her new responsibilities. Intelligent and thoughtful, she understood the legislative process extremely well and knew how to work the strengths of her community and of those who represented the city. She was bold and beautiful in her person and her carriage.

One of the biggest challenges facing Marge and Detroit as she assumed her new role was the potential for the city going into bankruptcy. Marge successfully shepherded a package of bills through the Michigan Legislature to provide the city the tools it needed to avoid such a devastating situation. The bills included legislation providing municipalities the ability to sell bonds to pay off their debts. The most controversial part of the package of proposed legislation was a proposal to increase the city income tax on both residents and non-residents by 1%.

During the time she served the city, Mayor Young and Marge forged phenomenal relationships with Republican powerhouses such as Gov. Bill Milliken and House Speaker Paul Hillegonds of Holland. That was a time when not all legislators agreed on answers to policy issues, still the debate was generally civil and the results were more often than not bi-partisan.

Through the remainder of Mayor Young’s 20 years in office, and through the tenure of Mayor Dennis Archer, Marge was the lobbyist for the City of Detroit.

She was effective and admired for her abilities, her unflagging energy and her integrity. While others may have gotten more attention from some in Lansing, Marge was always the quintessential lobbyist and the most effective and powerful woman in Lansing for more than two decades. She earned an honored spot in Michigan’s political history.

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