LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — A Michigan senator’s letter to an Upper Peninsula lawmaker found dead Tuesday is making its way across social media.
Democratic Sen. David Knezek of Dearborn Heights said he lived with Rep. John Kivela in the Lansing home where Kievela’s body was found early Tuesday afternoon. There were no obvious indications of foul play, authorities said.
Hours later, Knezek posted an open letter to Kivela on Facebook.
“I still remember our first conversation on the phone after you won your race. No one expected you to win but you did.
‘It’s because I put the word SISU on my lawn signs,’ you said.
‘What’s SISU mean?’
‘Finnish concept. You know we got all those Finns in da UP. It means strength in the face of adversity. I’m going to fight for my folks.’
“I told you I loved that concept and within of week of us meeting in person, I had my own SISU bumper sticker to put on my car. That’s the type of person you were,” Knezek wrote.
Knezek said Kivela, a Democrat from Marquette, was respected on both sides of the aisle and loved by everyone – something Knezek aspired to be.
“I wish you would have known just how many of us loved you and knew just how devastated everyone is in Lansing today. I can’t even begin to imagine how people are feeling in Marquette. I’ve gotten text messages from Democrats and Republicans alike who are just beside themselves,” he wrote.
Knezek also gave an insider’s view of Kivela’s personality.
“I always laughed at the can of ‘Bull**** Spray’ you used to keep on the shelf. Whenever I was weaving a tall tale together you used to grab the can and give me a look that said, “Cut the cr**, kid,” he recounted.
Clinton County Sheriff Lawrence Jerue said Kivela was arrested Monday on southbound U.S. 127 near Maple Rapids.
Knezek said he heard the arrest was for drunken driving — Kivela’s second offense. Kivela previously pleaded guilty to drunken driving after his November 2015 arrest in Clinton County.