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Milton Zaagman was an American politician who served in the Michigan Senate from 1963 to 1974 as a member of the Republican Party.

Early life
Zaagman was a graduate of Calvin College, and was awarded a degree in mortuary science from Wayne State University. He worked as a mortician.

Zaagman served on the Kent County Board of Supervisors for five years.

1962
In June 1962, Michigan State Senator Perry W. Greene announced his retirement from the Senate, putting John R. Stiles forward as his successor. However, Zaagman announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination and represent the 16th district, one of two districts representing Grand Rapids. In August of that year, Zaagman won against Stiles for the Republican nomination.

In November 1962, Zaagman was elected with 29,141 votes against the 17,136 of his opponent Arthur H. Masterson. The city's other district was also won by a Republican, Robert VanderLaan.

1963
On November 6, 1963, Zaagman put forward a resolution to the State Senate seeking to push a U.S. constitutional amendment to allow prayers in American schools.

1964
On February 11, 1964, Zaagman's bill calling for the permitting of prayer in schools was reported out by the House Rules and Resolutions Committee on a vote of 7-0.

1966
In April 1966, Zaagman sponsored two bills calling for extended polling hours during elections and an increase to the number of registrars for voter registration. Both measures were passed by the Senate. In November, he was one of five senators accompanying International Affairs Committee chairman Gilbert Bursley on a economic fact-finding tour of the Far East.

1969
In August 1969, he was appointed to the Design Committee to help design a new Michigan State Capitol.

1970
In August 1970, Zaagman ran unopposed to be the Republican candidate for his Grand Rapids seat, now the 32nd district.

1971
In 1971, Zaagman supported a bill which would allow absentee landlords to vote in property tax elections in areas where they own property. The bill was seen as "controversial" and met with opposition from other senators. On February 2, he was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate. In March, he was the sole member of the Health, Social Services and Retirement committee to oppose a bill allowing women to obtain an abortion during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy for any reason.

1973
In November 1973, Zaagman supported a bill which permitted unlimited spending and collecting by election candidates, so long as donations and costs were fully disclosed.

In December, Zaagman announced his intention to run for vice-president Gerald Ford's congressional seat. VanderLaan had previously announced his intention to run as Republican candidate, and Democrats Jelt Sietsema and Richard Vander Veen were also announced to be in the running.

1974
In January 1974, Zaagman came fourth in the race for the 5th congressional district Republican nomination with 4,354 votes. VanderLaan was the winner with 26,105 votes while James K. Miller and Robert Boelens had 11,351 and 6,626 votes respectively. On becoming the congressional candidate, VanderLaan announced his resignation as Senate Majority Leader, and Zaagman was elected to succeed him.

In April, he sponsored a bill calling for better ambulance services in rural areas. It passed the Senate on April 23 with a vote of 30-5.

In September, he cosponsored a resolution to rename a section of Interstate 196 after Gerald Ford.

Zaagman lost his seat in the November 1974 State Senate elections, due to a Democrat-led redrawing of his district in 1972. He was succeeded by John R. Otterbacher.

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Appropriations
 * Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee
 * Conservation, Recreation, Agriculture and Advertising Subcommittee (Chairman)


 * Committee on Health, Social Services and Retirement
 * Committee on Municipalities and Elections (Chairman)
 * Committee on State Affairs
 * Design Committee

Later career
Following his departure from the senate, he became a lobbyist for the Michigan State Medical Society. In 1976, he founded Zaagman Associates, which sought to provide liaison between organizations and the Michigan government. Clients included the Michigan State Medical Society, the Richard B. Smillie Management and Consulting Company, and the Michigan Association of Public Insurance Adjusters.

By 1982, he was lobbying for fourteen clients.

Personal life
Zaagman was a member of the Christian Reformed Church.