Pamela Sossi

Pamela Sossi
Personal details
Born	(1983-12-25) December 25, 1983 Harper Woods, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Harper Woods, Michigan
Alma mater	University of Michigan University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Occupation	Attorney
Website	www.pamelasossi.com

Pamela Sossi (born December 25, 1983) is an American attorney based in Detroit, Michigan. She is the senior partner at The Law Office of Pamela M. Sossi, and is an occasional legal commentator on 910AM WFDF and WHPR TV33. Her practice focuses on criminal defense, business litigation and civil rights litigation. Sossi also serves as a public defender in Harper Woods and Detroit.

Sossi was elected as the Michigan Democratic Party Precinct Delegate for Precinct 4, Harper Woods on August 2, 2016.

Personal life

Pamela Sossi was born and raised in Harper Woods, Michigan. She is the daughter of Michael Sossi, a UAW/Chrysler electrician, and Marlene, a restaurateur. Sossi's family has owned Roma Cafe, the oldest Italian restaurant in Detroit, since 1919.

Education

A 2002 graduate of Harper Woods High School, Sossi received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. In 2007, Sossi began working on her master's degree in Secondary Education and Teaching, also at the University of Michigan. In 2011, Sossi received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Professional career

Sossi clerked for Bodman PLC, where she worked in the Banking and Real Estate section for five years. In law school, she served as the judicial law clerk for United States District Court judge, Patrick Duggan.

Sossi passed the Michigan Bar Exam in October 2011, and shortly thereafter started her own business, The Law Office of Pamela Sossi, PLLC. She has recovered over a million dollars in verdicts and settlements for her clients, and has been named a "Top 10 Under 40" Attorney and listed as one of the "10 Best Female Attorneys" for both criminal law and personal injury law. In both 2016 and 2017, Sossi was named a "Michigan Rising Star" by Super Lawyers.

Political career

2016 Primary Election

In 2016, Sossi ran against incumbent State Representative Brian Banks, for the Democratic nomination in the 1st District in the Michigan House of Representatives. The 1st District includes Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Shores and a portion of northeast Detroit. Sossi's campaign was endorsed by the Detroit Free Press, National Organization for Women, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, Michigan Retailers Association, Michigan Restaurant Association and the Michigan Credit Union League.

During the campaign, attack pieces were mailed to voters that listed defunct Political Action Committees (PAC) in the political disclaimer required under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA). The mail pieces sought to label Sossi as a Republican. Sossi is a member of the Michigan Democratic Party and a lifelong Democrat. Her boyfriend, Mike Norris, is a political consultant registered as a Republican in Florida. "My boyfriend isn't running for the seat," Sossi said.

On June 28, 2016, Banks was charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. Because of Banks eight previous felony convictions, he was charged as a habitual offender and could have faced life in prison if convicted of the new felonies. On July 1, 2016, Banks held a rally at Bethany Christian Church, where his supporters claimed the new felony charges were unjust. Detroit City Council President, Brenda Jones argued that the charges were politically driven by Attorney General Bill Schuette, in an attempt to support Sossi's bid for the Democratic nomination. Schuette denied the suggestions.

Despite Banks' significant fundraising advantage, Sossi led the race throughout the night until last minute votes were reported, giving Banks a narrow victory. On September 15, 2016, Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson ruled that Banks used House funds or resources to mail invitations to an event promoting his campaign against Sossi, a violation of section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. As a result, Banks was required to personally reimburse the Michigan House of Representatives for the materials and labor misused. On February 6, 2017, 26 days into his third term in the Michigan House of Representatives, Banks resigned his seat as part of a plea deal to avoid prison time.

2017 Special Primary Election

On February 9, 2017, Sossi declared her intention to run in the Special Election called to fill the vacancy that would be left by Banks' resignation or incarceration.

On February 16, 2017, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder called a Special Election to fill the vacancy left by Banks resignation. Both the Governor and the Secretary of State's office ruled that Banks was not eligible to run for his own seat, ending speculation that he might do so. Additionally, Representative Aaron Miller filed HB 4208 to ensure that expelled or resigned former members could not run in the Special Election called because of the vacancy they caused.

In April 2017, Tenisha Yancey, filed to run for the seat. Detroit Mayor Duggan campaigned for Yancey, citing Sossi's failure to support the Mayor's "D-insurance legislation."

As she did in 2016, Sossi won more votes in the suburbs winning Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Shores. Unlike the 2016 Primary Election, Sossi also won Absentee Ballots. However, Yancey won by a 198-vote victory, to replace Banks in the Michigan House of Representatives due to the voter registration of the District.

Electoral history

2016 Michigan 1st House District Primary Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brian Banks	3,293	44
	Democratic	Pamela Sossi	2,618	36
	Democratic	Washington Youson	573	7
	Democratic	Keith Hollowell	507	5
	Democratic	Corey Gilchrist	218	2
	Democratic	Kameshea Amos	211	2

2017 Michigan 1st House District Primary Special Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tenisha Yancey	2,215	33
	Democratic	Pamela Sossi	2,017	30
	Democratic	Sandra Bucciero	956	14
	Democratic	Justin Johnson	615	9
	Democratic	Washington Youson	415	6
	Democratic	Keith Hollowell	150	2
	Democratic	Kirkland Garey	107	1
	Democratic	Burgess Foster	78	1
	Democratic	John Donahue	76	1
	Democratic	Gowana Mancill Jr.	45	0.6
	Democratic	Ronald Diebel	36	0.5

See also

• Michigan House of Representatives
• Michigan Democratic Party

External links

Others articles of the Topics Michigan AND Biography : Icewear Vezzo

Others articles of the Topic Michigan : Icewear Vezzo

Others articles of the Topic Politics : Incumbent, Frank Blackburn, Ewald Max Hoyer, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Social Activist, Anan Foundation

Others articles of the Topic Biography : Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Icewear Vezzo, Kayden James Buchanan, 27 Club, BigWalkDog, List of Mensans, MrWolfy

References

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