Former U.S. Congressman Howard Wolpe dies

Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Former U.S. Rep. Howard Wolpe has died.

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Wolpe was first elected to Congress in 1978 and represented the Kalamazoo area for seven terms.

A native of California, Wolpe moved to Kalamazoo to teach at Western Michigan University. He was an expert in African political systems.

He served on the Kalamazoo City Commission from 1969-72, when he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/10/former_us_congressman_howard_w.html

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Wolpe also served as Director of the Africa program for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Here's some of his recent work on Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other Africa-related issues:http://www.wilsoncenter.org/staff/howard-wolpe

There are politicians, and then there are public servants. Wolpe was a public servant.

May he rest in peace. May his family and friends find comfort.

As I recall it (and it's a long time ago), he ran against nuclear power as his signature issue. Admirable, but it wasn't registering as a big issue for Michigan voters. Too bad he didn't win, against John Engler.

RIP.