State Representative Joan Bauer has lived and worked in the Lansing area for most of her life. Joan is known for her deep commitment and service to her community through her professional career, her work as an elected local official, and her community service.
Representative Bauer is a former high school and adult education government teacher. She also served as the Director of Women’s Programs at the YWCA and as the Director of the Lansing Community College Foundation. Joan is well known in the community for her work as the Director of Volunteer Services at Ingham Regional Medical Center for 21 years. In 1995, Joan Bauer was first elected to the Lansing City Council as a Member At-Large representing the 118,000 citizens of Lansing. She was re-elected in 1999 and 2003. During her eleven years on the Council, she served as President, Vice President and chaired every City Council Committee as well as several ad hoc committees.
Joan was elected to serve as the State Representative for the 68th District in 2006 and was re-elected for a second term in 2008, receiving 78% of the vote. She serves on the House Appropriations Committee, chairs the Higher Education Appropriations Committee, is vice chair of the Community Colleges Appropriation Committee, and is a member of the Economic Development Committee and the Joint Capital Outlay Committee.
Representative Bauer has been an active volunteer and community leader for numerous organizations over the past thirty years. She has served as President of the Michigan Capital Girl Scout Council, Friends of the Lansing Public Library, Friends of the Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame, Lansing Rotary Club Foundation, and the Junior League of Lansing. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Capital Area United Way, Capital Region Community Foundation and Lansing Rotary Club Foundation, and is a volunteer for the Greater Lansing Housing Coalition, the American Red Cross, Lansing Community College, and the Lansing Safety Council.
Representative Bauer is married to Doug Langham, who recently retired from the State of Michigan as the Administrator of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Bureau of Workers Compensation.