Robert Gosselin

Robert (Bob) Gosselin (born 1951-2023 ) was a conservative Republican politician in Oakland County, Michigan and is an Oakland County Commissioner.

Gosselin was born in Berkley, Michigan and attended Berkley High School.

He attended, but did not graduate from Lawrence Technological University, where he studied engineering.

He is also a licensed builder, licensed realtor and licensed heating contractor.

He is married to Jan Gosselin and has three children.

Gosselin was elected to the Troy City Council in 1993.

He served until 1997.

In 1998, he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent the then-42nd District which included portions of Rochester Hills and Troy.

He was re-elected to the same seat in 2000.

In 2002, after his district was consolidated into Troy and Clawson, he ran for and lost a Michigan Senate seat against incumbent Shirley Johnson in the 13th District.

This was the case in his 2002 bid for the State Senate as well as his 2004 House election.

Gosselin has traditionally supported a strong relationship between State Government and Judeo-Christian religion.

He has sponsored various legislation to place the words "In God We Trust" and the Ten Commandments at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing.

In support of this legislation, which failed, but ultimately won by putting them in the Lansing Capital thru House Resolutions HCR 0056 of 2002 and HR 0024 of 2005.

Gosselin traveled the state with fellow Republican Representative Jack Hoogendyk with the 2.6-ton granite tablets involved in the 2003 Justice Roy Moore Ten Commandments controversy.

Gosselin holds the controversial belief that the U.S. Constitution does not deliberately dictate a separation between church and state and instead is a mere protection of all religious beliefs.

Consistent with his conservative philosophy, Gosselin also strongly opposes abortion.

In the legislature he supported bills that would make it illegal to coerce a woman into having a legal abortion, requiring ultrasounds to be shown prior to abortions, to prohibit physicians and health facilities from accepting prepayment for abortions, and to establish a "Choose Life Fund," funded with revenue from the sale of a "Choose Life" specialty license plate.

Despite his interest in government regulation of abortion and association of government with religion, Gosselin has maintained significant support for and from libertarians.

For instance, he endorsed libertarian David Eisenbacher for City Council in Troy.

This is because of his strong opposition to state and local regulations, taxation and benefits.

While in the legislature, he voted against every single budget citing overspending in State Government.

He was the author of a package of legislation known as "Michigan Citizens First," which cut welfare benefits from illegal immigrants.

He consistently favored substantial cuts to government welfare programs.

In 2004, Gosselin again sat in the Michigan House, this time representing the new 41st District.

Bosnic, who also ran in 2004 in a three-way race against Gosselin, was endorsed by Gosselin in 2006.

Despite Gosselin's endorsement, Knollenberg won by 7%, or roughly 700 votes, over Bosnic.

Gosselin has achieved a reputation of being a conservative who appeals to the religious right as well as a strong libertarian bloc of Oakland County politics.

As such, he has gained the reputation of challenging establishment mainstream, moderate, and liberal Republicans.

Bosnic, who also ran in 2004 in a three-way race against Gosselin, was endorsed by Gosselin in 2006.

Despite Gosselin's endorsement, Knollenberg won by 7%, or roughly 700 votes, over Bosnic.

In 2006, Gosselin became a candidate for County Commissioner in the 13th District which includes the southern portion of Rochester Hills and a northern portion of Troy with a portion of Bloomfield Township.

He unseated a moderate Republican incumbent, Will Molnar, in the primary.

He handily won his general election bid for that seat.

According to the Oakland Press:

However, with Gosselin term-limited out-of-office, the younger Knollenberg became the Republican nominee for State House in 2006, defeating Mike Bosnic in the August 2006 primary.

However, with Gosselin term-limited out-of-office, the younger Knollenberg became the Republican nominee for State House in 2006, defeating Mike Bosnic in the August 2006 primary.

In 2006, Gosselin initially ran for the Michigan Senate against fellow State Representative Shelley Taub.

Many state political observers were anticipating a lively free-for-all between these two.

This prediction was based upon the open animus between former Senator Shirley Johnson and Gosselin.