Connie Saltonstall

Who is Connie Saltonstall?

Connie Saltonstall is a Michigan Democratic politician, a former Charlevoix County Commissioner, and a former candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 1st congressional district. She ended her campaign in May 2010.

Saltonstall graduated from the University of Michigan, and worked as a teacher and a school board member for Charlevoix schools. She later served on the Michigan Association of School Boards Taxation Committee,.

Saltonstall was elected to the Charlevoix County Commission in 2006, and served a three-year term on the Charlevoix County Commission on Aging. She unsuccessfully sought election to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2008.

In March 2010, Saltonstall announced that she would challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak. Saltonstall cited Stupak's authoring of the anti-abortion Stupak–Pitts Amendment to the proposed Affordable Health Care for America Act, as well as Stupak's disagreement with changes made to the amendment by the U.S. Senate. She has received vocal support from the abortion rights groups, NARAL and the National Organization of Women. NOW President Terry O’Neill told POLITICO, “I think Connie Saltonstall is going to be our next representative from Michigan's first district.” Stupak has since announced that he will not run for re-election. In May 2010, Saltonstall ended her candidacy after party establishment decided to back another candidate.