Jim Ananich was the Flint state senator during the Flint water crisis. Ananich, a Democrat, took an interest in Mona’s research early on and helped her to assemble a team that would back her as she came forward with her data about the blood-lead levels of Flint’s children. Ananich became an important member of Mona’s team. An advocate for the truth, Ananich helped defend Mona when city and state officials tried to discredit her research.