Bolen praised for leadership

To the Editor:

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the annual convention of the Michigan Municipal League, the leading advocate and training organization for cities across Michigan. I attended this convention to visit with my friends from Wakefield, Mayor Richard Bolen, city manager John Siira and council member Ted Finco. I also had the opportunity to meet the Ironwood city manager, Scott Erickson.

As a newly appointed city manager for Luna Pier, Mich., I was extremely impressed to learn that both Bolen and Erickson are both serving on the MML board of directors. I was impressed because of all of the cities in the Upper Peninsula that these city officials represent, both of them are from the area where I resided as a child and where I graduated from high school in Wakefield.

I also learned that Bolen had just been elected by his peers on the board of directors to the position of vice-president of the league. At the 2014 convention, Bolen will become the president.

I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a great achievement this is, not only for Bolen, but also for the Upper Peninsula and Wakefield. This is the first time in the 100-year history of the league that a sitting mayor of Wakefield has been elevated to this prestigious position and also only the fourth time in the history of the league that this honor has been bestowed on someone from the Upper Peninsula.

This achievement speaks volumes about the leadership that Bolen not only brings to Wakefield, but also to the state. He not only has earned the respect of the people he represents in Wakefield, but also the respect of over 500 municipalities across the state. Bolen should be commended for this rare accomplishment and the residents of Wakefield should be extremely proud they have a person of his expertise as mayor and someone who is recognized across the state in the highest leadership position of participating cities.

I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to him and I am looking forward to his leadership at MML in the upcoming year.

Charles A. Londo

Monroe, Mich.

formerly of Wakefield