Education
State Representative Douglas A. Bennett attended the Muskegon County School system, graduating from Ravenna High School in 1964.
He attended Muskegon Community College and served his apprenticeship in the United Association Muskegon, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 154, graduating as a Journeyman Steamfitter in 1971.
Government Experience
Rep. Bennett served on the Muskegon County Commission, first appointed in October 1999 and later elected to represent the 7th Commission District in 2000 and 2002. During his three terms, he chaired the Muskegon County Community Development/Strategic Planning Committee.
In addition to his service on the Muskegon County Commission, Rep. Bennett has distinguished himself through his active involvement in the union.
In 1977, Rep. Bennett was elected to Local 154’s Bargaining Committee. In 1981, he was elected to the Local Union Executive Board. In 1983 he was elected Business Manager and served consecutive terms between 1983 and 1998.
In July of 1998, Rep. Bennett was appointed by his International Union to direct the ordered consolidation of the Muskegon and Grand Rapids Local Unions. He became the Business Manager, Financial Secretary/Treasurer of the newly formed West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters and Service Trades Local Union 174 and served in that capacity until the end of his elected term, retiring the end of January 2004.
Rep. Bennett also served as chairman of the Muskegon Building Trades Affiliates from 1984 to 1998. He then served as a Delegate to the West Michigan Building Trades Council until his retirement.
He was appointed to the Private Industry Council, served on the On-the-Job Training Committee, and was a Founding Member of Muskegon Economic Growth Alliance. Rep. Bennett is also a past member of the Board of Directors of Muskegon Area First, an economic development organization. He served as Chairman of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Pensions and Health & Welfare Trusts from 1986 to 2003, and continues to serve as an elected Trustee.
On October 18, 2007, at the Thirtieth Tribute to Industry & Labor Dinner, Rep. Bennett was awarded the Annual Harold Workman Labor-Management Cooperation Award by the Muskegon Area Labor-Management Committee. This award is given to recognize an outstanding effort by an individual or a labor-management team who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting excellent labor-management cooperation in Muskegon County. Previous individual award winners include: Eugene Fisher, Jeff Kenny, Gordon Bonifield, Roger C. Wade, William B. Roof, Larry LaVigne, Darryl Cochrane, Ernie Filiaut, and Stanley Zahrt.
Family
Rep. Bennett and his wife, Helene, make their home in Muskegon. Together, they have three children (Sherri, 34; Shannon, 32; and Ryan, 26) and seven grandchildren (Bethany, Cole, Erika, Rylee, Remy, Bennett, and Brayton).