 Joan has lived and worked in the Lansing area for most of her life. She was elected to serve as the State Representative for the 68th District in 2006, receiving overwhelming support from the community with 74% of the vote in the general election. In 2008, she was re-elected to the Michigan Legislature with 78% of the vote. The 68th District includes most of the City of Lansing north of Jolly Road and Lansing Township.
State Representative Joan Bauer is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. She serves as the Chair of the Higher Education Appropriations Sub-Committee and is the Vice Chair of the Community Colleges Appropriations Sub-Committee and a member of the Economic Development Appropriations Sub-Committee. These committee assignments give Representative Bauer the opportunity to have a major impact on our state’s budget, economic development in Michigan, and the funding for our state’s universities and community colleges. Joan is also co-chair of the bi-partisan Local Government Caucus, Chair of the Capitol Caucus, Co-Chair of the Michigan Legislative Women's Caucus, Co-Chair of the Crime Victims Caucus, and also serves on the Capitol Committee.
Prior to being elected to the Michigan Legislature in 2006, Joan served as a member of the Lansing City Council from 1995 until 2006. During that time, she helped deliver balanced budgets, made tough decisions, worked to assure that General Motors would stay in the Lansing area, and brought new jobs to Lansing. During her eleven years on the City Council, Joan served as President, Vice President, and chaired almost every City Council committee. Joan’s experience as a local elected official has been extremely valuable in her new role as a State Representative.
A graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in history and minors in political science and secondary education, Joan is a former high school and adult education government teacher. She also worked as the Director of Women’s Programs at the YWCA and as the Director of the Lansing Community College Foundation. Joan gained extensive experience in healthcare through her twenty-one years at Ingham Regional Medical Center where she served as the Director of Volunteer Services. Joan has found that her work experiences in education and healthcare have been extremely helpful as the legislature addresses challenges in these two important areas..
Joan has been an active volunteer and community leader for numerous organizations over the past thirty years.
Current Memberships and Community Involvement:
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Ingham County Democratic Party
Greater Lansing Food Bank Empty Bowls Fundraiser Steering Committee
Lansing Area Safety Council Advisory Committee
Greater Lansing Housing Coalition
Capital Area United Way Board of Directors
Lansing Rotary Club
Lansing Community College Women’s Resource Center Advisory Board
Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame
Michigan Capital Girl Scout Council, Past President |
Previous Community Involvement:
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Michigan Women in Municipal Government, Immediate Past President
Capital Region Community Foundation Board of Directors
Dart Bank Board of Directors
American Red Cross, Chair of HERO Campaign
Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan Board of Directors
Magic Ride for Kids Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Center of Mid-Michigan Board of Directors
Junior League of Lansing, Past President
Friends of the Lansing Public Library, Past President
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Board of Directors
Ingham County Women’s Commission, Past Chairperson
Zonta Club of Lansing
Lansing Rotary Club Foundation Board of Directors, Past President
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Co-Founder of:
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Friends of the Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame
Council Against Domestic Assault
Capital Area Women’s Network
Tri-County Women’s Coalition
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 Personal
Joan’s parents, Jean and Ted Bauer, were both teachers and her father was a coach at Lansing Everett High School for 20 years. Joan’s sister, Nancie Bauer, is a middle school teacher and her brother, Joe Bauer, is a police officer.
Joan is married to Doug Langham who recently retired from the State of Michigan as the Administrator of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Bureau of Workers Compensation. Joan and Doug live on the west side of Lansing.
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