Elected to the Michigan House in 2004, State Representative Dudley Spade represents the people of the 57th House District, which includes all of Lenawee County, except Cambridge Township.
In the House:
- Spade is one of the first legislators in the nation to recognize the dangers posed by marijuana-flavored candy, and introduced legislation to ban its sale in Michigan. His efforts led to one maker of marijuana-flavored candy to pull the product.
- Holding corporate executives accountable through high standards of financial accounting.
- Fighting Canadian and out-of-state trash.
- Protecting and creating jobs in Michigan.
- Received the Doing Something Wonderful Legislative Award from Michigan’s Children for his work as a “visionary freshman legislator,”
Before the House:
- Spade has spent more than 25 years as a child and family advocate.
- He spent 17 years as the Controller at Boysville of Michigan (now Holy Cross Services), a facility for troubled youth.
- Starr Commonwealth, director of Information Systems and Technology. Under Spade's watch, Starr Commonwealth was noted by Consumer's Digest as the 6th most efficient charity in the nation.
- His commitment to children and accounting expertise restored $7.5 million in funding to services benefiting Michigan's children.
- Winner of the first annual Michigan Federation of Private Child and Family Agencies' Peer Award for outstanding dedication in service to Michigan's families and children, 1994.
Activities:
- Helped with numerous local Muscular Dystrophy telethons.
- Former member of the Tecumseh Kiwanis Club.
- For eleven years, Spade has been active in the Tecumseh Area Little League program.
Education:
- Eastern Michigan University, bachelor's degree in business and accounting.
Personal:
- A longtime resident of Tipton in Lenawee County, Spade follows his brother, Doug Spade, in representing the 57th District. The Spades grew up on their family farm in neighboring Hillsdale County.
- Dudley Spade and his wife, Nancy, have three children, Kyle, Sarah and Katie. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh. Spade is a former Deacon and Nancy Spade taught Sunday school.