Politics & Government

Longtime Mayor Noonan Highlighted as 'Architect of Utica's Rebirth'

Utica Mayor Jacqueline Noonan was recently showcased on the Michigan Association of Mayors website, the group for which she currently serves as president.

Now in her 13th term as mayor of the City of Utica, Jacqueline Noonan is somewhat of a legend in Michigan municipal leadership. 

The president of the 2012-13 board of directors for the Michigan Association of Mayors (MAM), Noonan was recently featured in the "Mayor Spotlight" on that organization's website.

The first woman to serve as mayor of the now 196-year-old city, Noonan is "generally recognized as the architect of Utica’s rebirth and ongoing success as a tiny full-service city in the midst of Detroit’s suburban rim," the MAM feature reads.

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Noonan, running unopposed, was elected to her 13th term as mayor Nov. 8, 2011. She was first elected to Utica's City Council in 1981 and to the position of mayor in 1987.

Since that time she has been a leading advocate of collaboration and consolidation in Macomb County, earning special recognition from U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI 9th) for her research and development of the 425 agreement during her tenure.

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"This intergovernmental agreement saved Utica from dissolution and brought about a sharing of resources and services between several communities," said Levin in a 2004 speech given in the House of Representatives to recognize Noonan as a recipient of the Alexander Macomb "Woman of the Year" Award from the March of Dimes.

Even now, Noonan continues to promote collaboration between communities and consolidation of resources. At this year's Heritage Luncheon in Shelby Township, Noonan said chief among her plans for 2013 will be to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements to eliminate overtime and reduce spending wherever possible.

In addition to her duties as mayor and MAM president, Noonan serves as the vice president of the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees.


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