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| Attorney General Michaelson in 1974 |
One of Rhode Island
By Will Collette
A champion for human, civil and labor rights, former state Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson died at home last Saturday at age 89.
Throughout his long career of public service, “Julie” fought for social justice. When he served in the General Assembly, he was best known for the “Michaelson Act” that required school districts to bargain in good faith with teachers, ending the long-standing practice of ignoring teachers to put them in the untenable spot of either giving up or going on strikes that were forbidden by state law.
As state Attorney General, Michaelson spearheaded one of the country’s first Consumer Protection Divisions after beating incumbent Dick Israel (R) in 1974 on a platform of fighting for consumers against predatory utilities and banks.
In his two terms as Attorney General, Michaelson transformed the office was that of simply being a prosecutor to providing broader protection for Rhode Islanders, especially those who needed help the most. No Attorney General since Michaelson has been as strong and as effective as a defender of consumers.
He refused to run for a third term and instead ran in 1982 for the US Senate, seeking to unseat incumbent John Chafee (R). Michaelson lost by only 2% of the vote.
Cathy Collette, chair of the Charlestown Democrats, remembers: “I sent six weeks camped out in a hotel room to campaign for Julie Michaelson for Senate and it was well worth it. He would have made a terrific Senator. He really left his positive mark on this state and will be missed.”