Pat McGinnis | Advocacy Committee Chair
In October, the Advocacy Committee worked on a clear communication to the City of Lansing Charter Commission offering to connect them with experts to provide information on the council manager form of government. The committee was prepared to have managers and mayors from successful Michigan local governments, ICMA advocacy staff, and academic experts prepare and present factual, detailed information about this most effective, efficient, and responsive form for local government. Sadly, the commission ignored our offer and formally voted on October 24 to present a new charter to voters that retains a strong mayor form. The committee will discuss whether to deliver a recommendation to the MME Board in November regarding further steps.
Following her trip to the ICMA Conference last month, Katie Beemer (Fennville) is excited about local government curriculum in our public schools and is researching past efforts of MME/MLGMA. This will inform a discussion about efforts to extend our advocacy into the classroom.
Jason Smith (Belleville) will present a session on Council Manager Advocacy at the Winter Institute in Bay City. He will be asked not to sing.
The MME is now an affiliate member of the Michigan Association of Counties. In 2025, we will also have booths at the Michigan Township Association and Michigan Association of Counties’ conferences. Watch for new MME SWAG in 2025 too! We will discuss other outreach opportunities and will be recruiting members to attend these conferences to explain council manager success in Michigan.
Pat McGinnis
Chair, Advocacy Committee
City Manager, Portage
Pat McGinnis has been active in the MCMA/MLGMA/MME since 1987 when he first worked in a manager’s office in the City of Farmington Hills. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from Michigan State University and has served as city manager in the Michigan municipalities of West Branch, Grand Haven, and Portage. He served a term on the MLGMA Board of Trustees and received the Excellence Award in 2012 and an Innovation Award in 2020. He and his wife Tina live in Portage, Michigan, with their bunny, cat, and puppy. He can be reached at mcginnip@portagemi.gov.