Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SEAMLESS ELECTION, OAK PARK. Thank you to the 5,098 voters who cast a ballot and supported the democratic process. Thank you to those who supported the City of Oak Park by renewing the Public Safety millage and the Solid Waste millage. Thank you to those who ran for City Council, showing that their dedication to this City is unwavering. Thank you to all the volunteers and Oak Park staff who worked this election, allowing each voice to be heard.

Elections are the crux of the democratic process, a culmination of each voice in a community. In Oak Park we have a diverse community, one where I am proud to say each voice is heard and represented. This election reaffirmed that those elected to represent the best interest of Oak Park have considered the individual needs of residents while also focusing on the long-term vision and success of the community. As the City Manager, I am grateful for the trust the City Council and the community has instilled in me to help transform Oak Park.

And, as the 39th City Council was sworn-in on Nov. 8, with Marian McClellan as Mayor and Carolyn Burns and Shaun Whitehead as Council Members and Julie Edgar as Mayor Pro-Tem, I am certain we will continue to push forward on the path of excellence.

FOR A COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, many factors must align. Community goals, short-term and long-term visions, practicing of the policies preached, funding to implement the policies and projects, and trust and patience in those elected and appointed to serve. In Oak Park, the stars have aligned for this success and as we move into the next phase of optimization, I am eager to see how our community continues to come together, building on our diverse pool of ideas.

As my excitement for Oak Park’s future continues to build, I must congratulate Mayor McClellan and Council Members Burns and Whitehead for their success at the polls. The resounding confidence this community has in our leaders is a sign of greater things to come.

I also want to congratulate the leaders of our neighboring communities who were elected, and re-elected too. For Oak Park, Southeast Oakland County and the entire Metropolitan Detroit Region we must be able to work together with our neighbors, to share ideas, collaborate and celebrate each other’s successes, for if one of us is successful, we all are.

AND FINALLY, WHILE I HAVE EXPRESSED MY GRATITUDE for the passage of the Public Safety and Solid Waste millage renewals, I must take a moment to highlight what this means for Oak Park. With the support of these fundamental funding mechanisms, residents will continue to receive the services they have come to expect, such as community policing and environmentally friendly solid waste practices.

And, with these services being supported by millage revenues we will continue to not only provide them, but also utilize our General Fund dollars to support additional services and projects to optimize Oak Park.

So, thank you again Oak Park for showing up to support your community and helping us to continue down our path of excellence.

Sincerely, City Manager Erik Tungate
City Of Oak Park