Moderate Democrat sent to Siberia by both sides of the aisle

I’ve never met state Rep. Tim Milton, but he has become one of my favorite politicians.

Melton played the role of compromiser — the centrist trying to find middle ground — during the 2009-10 session of the Legislature. Now, with the lineup of players in the Capitol transformed, Melton has become ostracized by both sides of the aisle.

Up until Dec. 31, the Auburn Hills Democrat was the chairman of the House Education Committee. Today, he’s not even a member of the committee.

What a change from 2009, when Melton was responsible for legislation that state Superintendent Mike Flanagan lauded as the biggest reforms to Michigan’s schools in decades. Melton was trying to secure federal “Race to the Top” funds for Michigan by enacting sweeping changes to teacher evaluations, establishing new ways to deal with failing schools, and opening the door to more charter schools.

Over at Domemagazine.com, a profile of Melton includes this excerpt:

“The innovative legislation earned Melton an invite to meet with lawmakers in Delaware — which did win Race to the Top money — but it also earned him the animosity of unions, particularly the Michigan Education Association, long allied with the Democratic Party.

“’It’s sad to see that education is such a divisive debate — that if you’re pro-charter, you’re anti-public education … if you’re pro-tenure reform, you’re anti-teacher,’ Melton said.  ‘It’s just not true. There’s some middle ground.’

“Melton, 40, also was closely allied with former House Speaker Andy Dillon — now state treasurer under Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Helping craft Dillon’s health care pooling plan (for public employees) also didn’t endear Melton to labor groups.

The irony is that Melton, a Pontiac native and former Oakland County commissioner, is the son of two UAW labor leaders who served as union organizers and Democratic Party supporters.

“As ‘Dillon’s shadow,’ as he was frequently known, Melton was a key player in the former speaker’s failed 2010 Democratic gubernatorial campaign against liberal standard-bearer Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

“Bernero eventually lost, as Democrats did the House last year. Now their shrunken caucus of 43 is decidedly more left-leaning.

“’We lost a lot of the seats that helped us get the majority — the Thumb, Upper Peninsula, Alpena, the west side, West Branch,’ Melton said. ‘All the seats that aren’t typically in the Democratic column.’

“All that was enough to relegate the term-limited House member to political Siberia within his party this time around.

“’I kind of saw it coming,” he said. ‘…Everything that happened before is the wrong way to go. But I’m proud of the things we did under Speaker Dillon’s tenure — I don’t regret anything. Except I regret losing the House and the governor’s race.’”