Fenton: Changing Administrations

Elections remind us of the ever-present possibility of change. The residents of Fenton were already braced for a change in administration as Dennis Hancock, six-term Mayor of Fenton, was not running for re-election. So the question before the Fenton citizens was not whether or not the current mayor would be retained, but who would next fill his seat.

I am honored and humbled that the people of Fenton selected me to start this next phase of the city’s journey.

Visiting with the majority of the residents during the campaign, I was welcomed into their homes to hear both their problems and possible solutions; their ideas and their dreams for the future of our city. I welcomed their suggestions then, and will continue to welcome them during my administration. 

I wish to thank every resident who voted for me, and even those who voted for my opponent. My first goal is to convince you by my actions over the next two years that you should, indeed, vote for me when I am up for reelection. I do appreciate that all of you – no matter how you cast your ballot – took the time out of your busy day to exercise your right to vote.

I also wish to thank Paul Seemayer, my opponent for the office of Mayor of Fenton, for stepping up to the challenge of running for a city-wide office. We were both novices in our pursuit of this office.  I learned from this first time experience
that it was not an easy task.

The next Board of Aldermen’s meeting will be Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall. Mayor Hancock and his Board will preside at the first part of the meeting. During the meeting, the new board and I will be sworn in. I will preside over the rest of the meeting. Immediately following the meeting, we will have refreshments and a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of the retiring administration and the chance to welcome the new. This is an open meeting. Please join us.

April 4 marked the 157th anniversary of the birth of Booker T. Washington. Born in 1856, he was a member of the last generation born into slavery in the United States. While he lived in a time of sweeping changes, a statement he made about leaders holds constant:  Few things help individuals more than to place responsibility upon them and to let them know you trust them.

Thank you, again, for placing your trust in me. I take your trust and my responsibility seriously.