Brian Banks (Michigan Politician)

Brian Roderick Banks (born November 15, 1976) is an American politician who served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017. Banks was a candidate for the 2nd District of the Michigan Senate in 2018. He has been convicted of eight felonies related to writing bad checks and credit card fraud.

Education

A high school dropout, Banks later received his GED. Banks earned a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Education from Wayne State University, followed by a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law.

Career

Early career

During his early career, Banks has falsely claimed to be an attorney. The State Bar of Michigan has no record of Banks ever being licensed to practice law in Michigan.

Banks's campaign website previously stated that he was on staff at the law firm Rodnick, Unger and Kaner, P.C. and was an adjunct professor at Baker College. An employee at Rodnick, Unger and Kaner, P.C. told the ''Huffington Post'' that while Banks briefly worked at the firm as a law clerk, he left after only a few months.

Banks has also claimed to be an elementary school teacher and his biography on the Michigan House Democrats website listed him as a former elementary school teacher. The Michigan Department of Education Online Educator Certification System states that Banks has never held an Educator Certification.

Michigan House of Representatives

Despite a number of controversies, Banks defeated Scott Benson by 96 votes to win the 2012 Democratic primary for the 1st district of the Michigan House of Representatives. During the 2012 general election, the Grosse Pointe Democrats refused to endorse Banks.

Although only receiving 42% of the vote in the 2014 primary, Banks was re-elected.

During the August 2016 primary election, Banks defended a challenge for his seat by Harper Woods attorney Pamela Sossi.

Despite Banks's significant fundraising advantage, Sossi led the race throughout the night until last minute votes were reported, giving Banks a narrow victory. Sossi swept the suburbs, winning Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Shores, while Banks won Detroit. According to the Detroit Free Press, the 1st House District primary election was the most competitive election in Wayne County.

As the chair of the Detroit Caucus, Banks was able to enlist the help of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, other lawmakers and interest groups in Lansing to raise $140,545, second most of all candidates facing Primary challengers. Records show that Banks major financial backers included Republican "Matty" Moroun (owner of the Detroit International Bridge Co.), State Rep. Andy Schor, Reynolds American, Rizzo Environmental Services and Gaspar Fiore. Rizzo Environmental and Fiore would later be ensnared in a public corruption investigation by the FBI.

During the November 8 general election, Banks received 66 percent of the vote over engineer William Broman, his Republican challenger.

Resignation

On February 6, 2017, just 26 days into his third term in the Michigan House of Representatives, Banks resigned his seat to avoid prison time. Banks's resignation letter, submitted to House Speaker Tom Leonard, was effective immediately. In a statement, Speaker Leonard said, “Rep. Banks had one legal issue after another during his time in public office. I am glad to see he is finally taking responsibility for his actions, and hopefully today's plea agreement provides the fresh start he needs."

By 9 am, February 8, 2017, Banks was sending e-mails to supporters inviting them to a March 6 fundraiser for his PAC, Bank on Banks for Michigan, leading to speculation that he would be running for future office, or financially backing his chosen successor. The fundraiser was held at Sinbad's restaurant in Detroit, and advertised tickets starting at $50 and topping out at $5,000 for a platinum sponsorship.

On February 16, 2017, Governor Rick Snyder called a special election to fill the vacancy left by Banks's 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.

2018 Michigan Senate election

In August 2017, Banks filed candidate paperwork to run for the Michigan State Senate 2nd District seat in anticipation of a resignation by Bert Johnson, who has been federally indicted for corruption. According to the invitation obtained by the Detroit News, Banks kicked off his campaign with a November 13 fundraiser at the American Serbian Hall in Detroit. Suggested contributions ranged from $41 for a ticket to $2,000 for a sponsor-level donor.

Banks's attempt to return to the Michigan Legislature failed. In the August 7, 2018, election, Banks lost to first-time candidates Adam Hollier of Detroit (25.1%) and Abraham Aiyash of Hamtramck (20.9%).

2022 Wayne County Commission election

In 2022 Banks ran in the August Democratic primary to represent District 1 on the Wayne County Commission, listing his address as a post office box in Grosse Pointe. Incumbent Commissioner Tim Killeen defeated Banks in the primary election by 61.6% to 38.1%.

Business

In 2019 Banks pitched his consulting services to the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and Promise Schools, a company running a K-8 school for the School District of the City of Highland Park

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