Alma served two terms as a state senator from an Ann Arbor-centered district during 1995-2003.  In 2001, she began a delusional run for the Democratic nomination for Governor.  

When Alma finally woke-up and smelled the coffee, she joined forces with fellow gubernatorial candidate and then-U.S. House Rep. David Bonior in the spring of 2002.  

They subsequently campaigned as a ticket item in what was often termed by the media as "awkward" because Bonior, who was supposedly pro-life, had attached himself to Alma because of her pro-abortion credentials with Democratic primary voters.  

Although this short-lived political alliance went down in flames in the August 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary to then-Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, its formation demonstrated something really sinister about Ms. Wheeler-Dealer.

Alma proved that she was willing to form whatever alliance was necessary in order to get herself into a position of power so that she could advance her ideological agenda of abortion on demand.  Indeed, as Bonior's (short-lived) running mate, Alma got more media attention for "her cause" than she could have ever garnered on her own.  

So in August 2002, after Alma had lost her respective bids for the Democratic nomination for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, what else was the term-limited state senator to do but try to get the nomination for Secretary of State!  

Although Alma floated the Secretary of State idea in the media and tried to gather support from her pro-abortion allies to pressure Democratic activists attending that summer's state nominating convention, Alma had burned too many bridges with Granholm during the primary campaign and was unable to gain any real momentum.

The fact that Ms. Wheeler-Dealer would even attempt to seek the Secretary of State position after her previous humiliating defeats, says all you need to know about how thirsty she really is about seeking power purely for power's sake.  

It's almost like one could be sure that she would have tried to get herself nominated as the 2002 Democratic nominee for Attorney General if not for the fact that one actually has to be a lawyer, which Alma certainly is not (although this qualification did not seem to stop then-State Senator Gary Peters from running for the AG post, since Peters had never practiced a day of law in his life even though he has a J.D.).

Well, it didn't take long for Alma to seize her next opportunity to return to Lansing after she was term-limited out as a state senator in January 2003.  

As a result of the 2000 census, Michigan underwent legislative re-districting, which meant that there was an open state house seat in 2004 for an Ypsilanti-centered district.   Sure enough, Alma set-up shop there, even though this was about 90% new territory for her in comparison to her old state senate district.

The August 2004 Democratic primary for the 54th State House District featured a six-way race.  I was actively involved, during that primary campaign, in trying to stop Alma from regaining power.  

Here's an excerpt from a contemporary account that I wrote concerning some of those efforts during the summer of 2004:

"At the 75th Annual Fourth of July Parade in Ypsilanti on Saturday, July 3rd, I handed out over 500 quarter sheets emphasizing that Alma did not receive the UAW's endorsement. I can tell you first-hand that many parade goers who were familiar with Alma were genuinely shocked. In fact, after the parade, which Alma somehow inserted herself into (even though it is explicitly against the parade's rules to have non-incumbent politicians in the parade), Alma went to great lengths in order to confront me over the issue. (Keep in mind that the quarter sheets did not mention anything about her position on abortion and only highlighted three things: Alma Wheeler-Smith was not endorsed by the UAW; public records show that the vast majority of campaign money that Wheeler-Smith has raised is from individuals outside of the 54th District; and voters should consider finding out more about the other 5 LOCAL candidates who are also in the primary race).

"In the ensuing exchange, heard by up to 50 witnesses - including volunteers from rival Diane Kerr's campaign - Alma Wheeler-Smith crazily accused me of circulating lies about her as she held one of my quarter sheets in my face.  However, when pressed to bolster her claim, Alma could not. Specifically, when I flat out asked her if she was claiming that she actually had been endorsed by the UAW, Alma relented, arrogantly saying `No, I did not [get the UAW endorsement]. And I am really sweating it too, because it's not like I don't have every other union endorsement.'"

During that 2004 primary campaign Alma really showed what she was all about, even to those who were her natural base of supporters, i.e. white, middle class, pro-choice women:

"After distributing the 500 anti-Alma quarter sheets on July 3rd, and before Alma had confronted me, I had approached a 40 something pro-choice volunteer, who wore a Diane Kerr for State Representative t-shirt and who was distributing literature on behalf of Kerr. The pro-choice volunteer, who did not give me her name, gladly explained why she was working for Kerr - and against Alma Wheeler-Smith!

"The volunteer, who actually told me that she had been a staffer for notorious pro-abort former Congresswoman Lynn Rivers, stated that she could not stand Alma because Alma was an opportunist simply looking for a job in order to increase her own power!
Pro-choice activist: `You know why Alma is running?'
Andrew Shirvell: `Why?'
Pro-choice activist: `Because she needs a job. That's exactly what she tells people. Well f*** her. I have been out of a job for over 18 months.'"

Unfortunately, precisely because Alma had a lot more money and probably name recognition too, she won that race and is now currently serving her second term as a state representative.

Alma has subsequently said in at least one media interview that she still hasn't ruled out running for governor again, so do not think that Alma's satisfied with being simply a state rep.

Oh, no, that position is surely not enough for Alma because not even a few days after the Dems re-took the Michigan House last November, 2006, Alma had issued a press release screaming that she was the best candidate for Speaker of the House!

Oye Vey!  

Dillon now has the job that Alma wanted - actually it is more correct to say the Speakership was the job that Alma last wanted.

Alma's recent compliments of Dillon because of their mutual interest in raising taxes on the hardworking citizens of this state notwithstanding, Dillon would be wise to watch his back concerning Ms. Wheeler-Dealer, who remains as delusional - and hungry for power - as ever.

[I apologize for my weekly column being a day late this week due to unforeseen circumstances!]

About the author: Andrew Shirvell, Esq., is a pro-life citizen activist who writes a weekly column that is published every Thursday for RightMichigan.com in which he focuses upon Michigan pro-life issues. Shirvell attended Ave Maria School of Law - Ann Arbor, where he served as president of the school's Bioethics Society, from 2004-2005.  He also served as president of Students for Life at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, from 2000-2002.