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Ballenger v Michigan Department of Agriculture 17.12

Section 43(o)

EXCLUDED EMPLOYMENT, Policymaking position

CITE AS : Ballenger v Michigan Department of Agriculture, Ingham Circuit Court No. 87-60066-AE (August 10, 1989).

Appeal pending: No

Claimant: William Ballenger

Employer: Michigan Department of Agriculture

Docket No. B85-13688-RO1-103090W

CIRCUIT COURT HOLDING: Claimant's employment as the State Racing Commissioner was a major non-tenured policymaking or advisory position and therefore excluded employment under Section 43(o)(3)(v) of the Michigan Employment Security Act.

FACTS: The claimant was appointed by Governor Milliken to be the Racing Commissioner. He worked in that position from September 1982 until August 1985 when Governor Blanchard appointed a successor. He filed a claim for unemployment benefits.

DECISION: The services the claimant performed were excluded from consideration as employment under the Michigan Employment Security Act. The claimant was ineligible for benefits.

RATIONALE: The claimant was appointed to the position of Racing Commissioner by the Governor. A position is "major" if filled by gubernatorial appointment. The position was not covered by the Civil Service system and as such was non-tenured. The claimant admitted the position was policymaking or advisory. The policymaking/advisory nature of the position was confirmed by the position description submitted by the claimant. Thus the position was a major, non-tenured, policymaking or advisory position and was properly excluded from consideration as covered employment.

7/99

14, 3, 8: A

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