Almost a year ago, a statewide poll told us that more than eight in ten state residents viewed bipartisan cooperation in Lansing as very important. Yet only 5 percent saw solid evidence of Republicans and Democrats working together.

Well, dozens of new state representatives are heading to Lansing in January. We met with more than three dozen of representatives-elect in the past four months. They've already taken a near-unanimous vote to work in a bipartisan fashion.

"The future of Michigan is not a partisan issue, you have to be able to work with everyone for positive change," Dan Scripps told Center for Michigan outreach coordinator Nancy Short way back in July when they met at an ice cream parlor in Ludington. Scripps, a Democrat from Northport, is heading to Lansing.

John Walsh, a Republican from Livonia, is a new state representative, too. A self-proclaimed "MDM poster child," Walsh ran on a message of business attraction and retention, inveting in education, smart budgeting and bipartisan cooperation.

The following people who participated in Michigan's Defining Moment forums, meetings, and televised debates during the campaign will occupy seats in the state capitol come January. We wish them well. And, on behalf of the thousands of people across Michigan who are part of the Michigan's Defining Moment Campaign, we want them to know we're watching to see if campaign words are matched by legislative deeds….

Timothy Bledsoe, Democrat, Grosse Pointe
Fred Durhal, Democrat, Detroit
John Walsh, Republican, Livonia
Marc Corriveau, Democrat, Northville
Dian Slavens, Democrat, Canton
Doug Geiss, Democrat, Taylor
Deb Kennedy, Democrat, Flat Rock & downriver
Sarah Roberts, Democrat, St. Clair Shores
John Switalski, Democrat, Warren
Marie Donigan, Democrat, Royal Oak
Ellen Cogen Lipton, Democrat, Ferndale
Lesia Liss, Democrat, Warren
Vincent Gregory, Democrat, Southfield
Vicki Barnett, Democrat, Farmington Hills
Hugh Crawford, Republican, Novi
Lisa Brown, Democrat, Commerce Township
Harold Haugh, Democrat, Eastpointe
Gail Haines, Republican, Waterford
Cindy Denby, Republican, Howell
Richard Hammel, Democrat, Flushing
Lee Gonzales, Democrat, Flint
Larry DeShazor, Republican, Portage
Kate Segal, Democrat, Battle Creek
Jase Bolger, Republican, Marshall
Martin Griffin, Democrat, Jackson
Mike Simpson, Democrat, Eaton Rapids
Bill Rogers, Republican, Brighton
Mike Huckleberry, Democrat, Greenville
Justin Amash, Republican, Kentwood
Robert Dean, Democrat, Grand Rapids
Sharon Tyler, Republican, Berrien County
Bob Genetski, Republican, Allegan
Joe Haveman, Republican, Holland
Mary Valentine, Democrat, Muskegon
Jim Stamas, Republican, Midland
Wayne Schmidt, Republican, Traverse City
Andy Neumann, Democrat, Alpena