FLINT, MI, August 01, 2024 - William S. Ballenger III has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Ballenger has distinguished himself as the owner and publisher of The Ballenger Report, an online blog that focuses on Michigan politics and forecasting electoral races. Drawing from a rich well of experience in politics and journalism, he previously served as the founder of Inside Michigan Politics, a biweekly newsletter with which he was affiliated for more than 25 years. Designed to bridge the gap between state capitol happenings and grassroots politics across various legislative and congressional districts, Inside Michigan Politics earned Mr. Ballenger a well-deserved reputation among other regional journalists as the state's "undisputed Crown Prince of Pundits." His expertise is regularly sought by various media outlets in both Michigan and further afield, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA TODAY, CNN, the BBC and PBS, among many others.
Initially aspiring to a career in writing, Mr. Ballenger became involved in politics during the 1960s when he served as the assistant director of public relations for the Michigan Republican State Central Committee. Following this period, he assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Party in Shiawassee County and went on to serve as a state representative between 1969 and 1970. Advancing into the state senate, he achieved significant results by effectively shepherding numerous bills through the legislative process and later distinguished himself as a deputy assistant secretary within the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare during the presidential administration of Gerald Ford, and as the director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Mr. Ballenger found further success as a racing commissioner for Michigan by spearheading innovative measures to address the adverse impact of the introduction of the lottery and the proliferation of casino gambling on the horse racing industry in Michigan. He subsequently pivoted back to journalism as a horse racing columnist for the Detroit Free Press until 1991, during which time he also established Inside Michigan Politics – the newsletter filled a void in Michigan's media landscape and continues to be an unparalleled resource in the state.
From 1992 to 2004, Mr. Ballenger hosted a weekly call-in program on political issues on WKAR, and would later feature in various other podcasts and radio programs throughout the 2010s and early 2020s. He also served as the Robert P. and Marjorie Griffin Professor of American Government at Central Michigan University between 2003 and 2007. Today, Mr. Ballenger focuses exclusively on his work at The Ballenger Report, where he offers weekly articles on various political issues and contemporary topics.
Mr. Ballenger initially studied English at Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude. Following this accomplishment, he went on to earn a Master of Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. In accounting for his subsequent success, he largely credits his proficiency in predicting the outcome of upcoming elections, making him a long-term expert resource in the Michigan political community.
Looking ahead, Mr. Ballenger aspires to write a new work of fiction that surpasses the boundaries of conventional journalism and political reportage.
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