Kevin Elsenheimer, a former state lawmaker, has been named executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
Elsenheimer had been serving as chief deputy director of the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. In this role, he oversaw the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, the Office of Regulatory Reinvention, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, the Michigan Administrative Hearing System, and Freedom of Information Act responses. Until 2010, the Traverse City resident served six years in the state House, representing the 105th District. A Republican, he served a stint as minority leader.
“MSHDA has a nearly half-century legacy of supporting fair and affordable rental housing, helping the homeless, preserving the dream of homeownership and implementing bold placemaking initiatives that impact community and economic development statewide,” Elsenheimer said in a statement. “I am pleased to be tapped for this post and have an opportunity to work with this talented team to amplify the success of programs that already have received national recognition among the country’s housing finance authorities.”
The agency manages a nearly $4 billion balance sheet and enhances Michigan’s economic and social health through housing and community development. Its duties include administering the low-income housing tax credit program.
Elsenheimer is a former assistant prosecutor and owner of a law firm that represents municipalities throughout the state. He attended Michigan State University and Northwestern Michigan College, receiving a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.
He replaces Wayne Workman, who had been serving in dual roles as the deputy state treasurer for local government services and as MSHDA’s acting executive director since August 2014.
MSHDA’s former executive Scott Woosley resigned last summer amid questions about his travel and other expenses. He left the agency, saying he didn’t “want recent news reports to be a distraction from the transformative work that is happening at MSHDA and across the state.”
