Melvin Hollowell

Melvin "Butch" Hollowell
Co-Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party
In office
2003–2004
Serving with Mark Brewer
Preceded byMark Brewer (as chair)
Succeeded byMark Brewer (as chair)
Personal details
Born1959 or 1960 (age 65–66)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseDesiree Cooper
EducationAlbion College (BA)
University of Virginia
School of Law

Melvin "Butch" Hollowell Jr. (born 1959 or 1960) is an American lawyer and politician. In 2002, Hollowell was Democratic nominee for Michigan Secretary of State, but was defeated by Terri Lynn Land. He served as co-chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, alongside Mark Brewer, from 2003 to his resignation in 2004. Hollowell was the first African American chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Biography

Melvin Hollowell was born in either 1959 or 1960 in an army hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii.[1][2] His father was a surgeon stationed in the city.[2] Hollowell graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in the 1970s.[3][4] He served as an intern under U. S. Senator Carl Levin in the late 1970s. He graduated from Albion College in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in English. In 1984, he got his law degree from the University of Virginia.[5] Around 1984, Hollowell married fellow activist and lawyer Desiree Cooper.[1] The couple met while attending the University of Virginia.[6] They had two children together.[1]

From 1984 to 1985, Hollowell worked with the law firm Dickinson Wright. He served as assistant prosecutor of Wayne County from 1985 to 1986.[5] He served as a board member for the Detroit branch of the NAACP from 1986 to 1993.[7] He served as Wayne County purchasing director from 1986 to 1987. He served as assistant county executive under Edward H. McNamara from 1988 to 1990.[5][8] In 1990, Hollowell served as political director for Senator Levin's re-election campaign.[7] From 1990 to 1995, he worked for private law practices.[5] In 1993, he sought presidential appointment as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.[9] In 1994, he unsuccessfully contested incumbent John Conyers in the Democratic primary for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the state's 14th congressional district.[7][10] He began working for Butzel Long in 1995, where he'd serve as a partner.[5] Hollowell served as co-chair of the 2000 Al Gore presidential campaign in Michigan.[11]

On February 19, 2002, Hollowell announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Michigan Secretary of State. Another Democrat seeking nomination was John Austin, a member of the state board of education.[12] Hollowell's candidacy was supported by Jennifer Granholm, who was a long time friend and ally of Hollowell's, as well as the party's gubernatorial nominee.[13][14] Hollowell was nominated at the state convention in August.[15] Hollowell was defeated by Republican nominee Terri Lynn Land in the November general election, with Land winning by the largest margin seen in any of the statewide elections that day.[16]

By January 2003, it was reported Hollowell sought to contest the chairmanship of the Michigan Democratic Party, challenging incumbent Mark Brewer, who'd held the position since 1995.[17][18] While Hollowell's bid for chairman was backed by Governor Granholm, Brewer's chairmanship was backed by organized labor.[17] On February 11, Hollowell announced a power sharing compromise plan. As per the plan, Hollowell would serve as a chairman of the party.[19] His duties would focus on communications related aspects of the position, such as chairing party conventions and running campaigns. Brewer was to serve as executive chairman, focusing on finance and budgeting concerns.[20][21] At the February 15 state convention, Brewer and Hollowell were both elected co-chairmen of the party.[21] Hollowell was the first African American chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party.[22] Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press described the power sharing arrangement as "awkward", with tensions arising between Brewer and Hollowell. On August 3, 2004, Hollowell stepped down as chairman to become a legal advisor on John Kerry's presidential campaign.[23]

On August 17, 2004, Hollowell received a citation after being pulled over by Wayne County sheriff's deputies. He was accused of soliciting a prostitute. Hollowell denied the charges, claiming he was only trying to help a woman when he thought she was in distress.[24] The woman involved, Michelle C. Sherman, told the police that Hollowell paid her for oral sex.[25] In response to the citation, Hollowell resigned from the Kerry campaign, from his recent gubernatorial appointment to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, and from his partnership at Butzel Long.[25][26][27][28] After he appealed the case from district court to circuit court, the charges against Hollowell were dropped in January 2005, on the grounds that the deputies had no authority to pull over Hollowell.[29]

In February 2005, it was announced that Hollowell was hired by the firm Allen Brothers, Attorneys & Counselors.[30] Effective April 6, 2008, Hollowell was appointed by Governor Granholm as Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate, a newly established position.[31]

Hollowell worked as a lawyer on the 2013 Detroit mayoral campaign of Mike Duggan.[32] After Duggan was elected, in December 2013, he named Hollowell as Detroit corporation counsel, the city's top lawyer position.[33] Hollowell announced his resignation as corporation counsel in November 2017. He resigned to accept a position as managing partner at The Miller Law Firm in January 2018.[8]

After Mary Sheffield's victory in the 2025 Detroit mayoral election, she named Hollowell to lead her transition team.[34]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "40 Under 40 1994 - MELVIN "BUTCH" HOLLOWELL JR., 34". Crain Communications. 1994. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Christoff, Chris (October 23, 2002). "GOP hopefully shuns Yob's words". Detroit Tribune. p. 25. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Gray, Kathleen (October 29, 2002). "Upbeat Hollowell fighting an uphill battle". Detroit Free Press. p. 73. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Melvin Butch Hollowell". Public Lighting Authority. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Secretary of State". Battle Creek Enquirer. October 27, 2002. p. 35. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "40 Under 40: 1991 - DESIREE COOPER, 30". Crain Communications. September 9, 1991. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 McHugh, David (July 6, 1994). "Conyers to battle upstarts". Detroit Free Press. p. 11. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Detroit corporation counsel Melvin Hollowell to leave city post for law firm position". Detroit Free Press. November 22, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ "8 want the job". Detroit Free Press. January 24, 1993. p. 18. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Flesher, John (August 3, 1994). "Conyers, Sander Levin, Nick Smith renominated". Detroit Free Press. p. 6. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Michigan Democratic Party chairman joins Kerry campaign". Muskegon Chronicle. August 4, 2004. p. 13. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Attorney is candidate for secretary of state". Detroit Free Press. February 20, 2002. p. 18. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Weeks, George (August 18, 2002). "Politicking heightens for party positions as conventions near". Detroit Free Press. p. 18. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Battle is brewing at GOP convention". Detroit Free Press. August 23, 2002. p. 25. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Conventions energize parties". Detroit Free Press. August 26, 2002. p. 64. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "ATTORNEY GENERAL - After tight contest, Cox declares a slim victory". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 2002. p. 26. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 Harmon, Steven (January 5, 2003). "Polpourri '03". The Grand Rapids Press. p. 17. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Brewer full of praise". Lansing State Journal. February 6, 2003. p. 4. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Hollowell, Brewer to share power state party leaders". Grand Haven Tribune. February 11, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Moses, Alexandra R. (February 12, 2003). "Democrats' leaders to share power". The Herald-Palladium. p. 12. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 Moses, Alexandra R. (February 16, 2003). "State Democrats get joint leadership". The Flint Journal. p. 8. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Coleman, Ken (October 17, 2021). "5 vying to lead Michigan Democrats". News From The States. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  23. ↑ Gray, Kathleen (August 4, 2004). "Hollowell joins Kerry campaign". Detroit Free Press. p. 13. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Kerry aide faces solictation charge". NBC News. August 19, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Hollowell arraigned on solicitation count". Lansing State Journal. August 25, 2004. p. 12. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Hollowell appointed". The Grand Rapids Press. August 14, 2004. p. 11. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "HOLLOWELL - Ruling could have wide reach". Detroit Free Press. January 15, 2005. p. 12. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Hollowell quits as a shareholder in Butzel Long firm". Detroit Free Press. September 4, 2004. p. 12. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Judge Tosses Charge Vs. Democrats' Ex-Chair". Michigan Lawyers Weekly. January 24, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Ex-Democratic leader joins Detroit law firm". The Ann Arbor News. February 2, 2005. p. B6. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Granholm Names Melvin Butch Hollowell Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate". Michigan. March 6, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  32. ↑ Helms, Matt (October 25, 2013). "Duggan countersues after Davis tries again". Detroit Free Press. p. A11. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ Helms, Matt (December 24, 2013). "With mayoral inauguration days away, Duggan adds 3 administrators". Detroit Free Press. p. A9. Retrieved August 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Schwab, Grant (November 5, 2025). "Sheffield launches transition team led by veteran city lawyer following historic win". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.