Early Life and Political Career
Schlussel was born in 1969 to a family of Polish Jewish descent. Her father, H.L. Schlussel, was the son of immigrants. An ophthalmologist who also served in the United States Army, he has been a major influence in his daughter's life. She became active in politics at an early age, joining the National Teenage Republicans. At 16 she worked for Republican Congressman Mark D. Siljander, was a Jack Kemp delegate at the 1988 Republican National Convention and has worked on numerous political campaigns.
Schlussel received a BA from the University of Michigan and later earned a JD and MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1990, Schlussel ran for the Republican nomination for the 4th District (Oakland County) of the Michigan House of Representatives. She was defeated by Barbara Dobb by a single vote from around 8500 cast. Schlussel has since claimed that voter fraud led to her defeat, making allegations of impropriety against the family of her opponent and the judge who ruled on the issue.
In 1998, she stood for nomination to the same district (now renamed the 39th) against Marc Shulman. Schlussel has continued to attack Shulman, in particular when he received the Republican nomination for the Michigan Supreme Court and was defeated.
Read more about this topic: Debbie Schlussel
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