Jacobsen appointed to LCC

State government is a lot like the Hotel California – you can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave.

It didn’t take Brad Jacobsen, of Oxford Township, very long to land another state job after recently wrapping up a six-year stint in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Jacobsen
Jacobsen

Last week, the 1975 Oxford High School graduate was appointed to the state Liquor Control Commission (LCC) by Gov. Rick Snyder. The current annual salary for commissioners is $78,810.

“My name had been submitted by an outgoing director of a different state agency as a possible replacement for him,” Jacobsen explained. “When the governor’s office saw it, they said well, we don’t know that we want Brad for that position, but we think he’d be good for this one.”

Consisting of five members – no more than three from the same political party –appointed by the governor, the LCC is responsible for managing the beer, wine, distilled and mixed-spirit drink industries in Michigan.

Three of the members are administrative commissioners who are responsible for all matters related to licensing, purchasing, merchandising and enforcement.

The remaining two are hearing commissioners who preside over matters concerning violations. The administrative commissioners serve as an appeals board for decisions made by the hearing commissioners.

Jacobsen, a Republican, will begin his job as a hearing commissioner on Feb. 27.

“I’m really excited about it,” he said. “If a restaurant, party store or grocery store gets (cited for) a violation, the violations all go before the hearing (commissioners). We look at the violation, review at any evidence that they might want to present in their defense and then we decide on their penalty, whether it be a fine or the maximum, which is actual suspension of their license.”

After he receives his training, Jacobsen expects to preside over his first hearing in mid-March.

He explained these proceedings are “set up just like a courtroom” with a court reporter, attorneys for both the state and the alleged violator, and police officers all present. The hearing commissioner serves as the judge.

When asked what qualified him for this position, Jacobsen replied, “I think largely, they were looking for somebody who’s had sort of a well-rounded background in a variety of different governmental functions.”

Prior to Lansing, Jacobsen served on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners from 2006-10 and as a trustee on the Oxford Township Board from 1984-2000.

He believes his “judgment” and “temperament” were also factors in his appointment.

“I’ve worked with the governor for six years now and I have a bit of a reputation as a levelheaded person who looks at all the different issues and tries to be a problem-solver,” Jacobsen said.

“I think that’s part of what they’re looking for – someone who’s going to be able to listen to both sides and come up with a decision that maybe everybody won’t be happy with, but they’ll understand the reasoning behind it.”

In addition to the administrative and hearing duties, the five-member LCC, as a whole, is responsible for promulgating rules and establishing bureau policy. The LCC was created in December 1933 following the repeal of Prohibition.

Jacobsen replaces Edward Gaffney and will serve a term that expires June 12, 2020.

His appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the state Senate.

 

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