New mayors in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills

Birmingham city commissioner Patty Bordman was elected the new mayor of Birmingham at the city commission meeting on Monday, November 12, with Andy Harris handing over the gavel as the now-former mayor of the city, and the next night, Tuesday, November 13, Susan McCarthy was elected the new mayor of the city of Bloomfield Hills, following in the footsteps of Sarah McClure.

Commissioner Pierre Boutros was elected mayor pro tem for the city of Birmingham, while Will Hosler received the honor in Bloomfield Hills.

In thanking her fellow commissioners and members of the public, Bordman said that her then-seven-year-old father came to America in 1927 from Russia, “after my grandfather was murdered because of his religion and the children feared the same fate...In the meantime, Birmingham began to grow by annexing neighboring parcels, including the parcel on Lake Park,” where she and her husband live. She noted the irony that the initial deed included “No dwelling shall be occupied by anyone but of the Caucasian race.”

In the 1960s, Birmingham passed the Fair Housing Act, she noted, placing a prohibition against housing discrimination.

“After I was sworn in as a commissioner in 2015, I took a breath, that I am a first generation American because my dad was fleeing discrimination in religion,” Bordman continued. “Here I am, a mayor of a city that was the first community in the nation to ban discrimination not only against race, but religion. I am extremely proud to be your mayor of Birmingham.”

Boutros said, “I serve because this is how I give back to the community I love dearly.”

In Bloomfield Hills, city manager David Hendrickson said he expects it will be a seamless transition, noting both McCarthy and Hosler have been great additions to the city commission.

Both Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills rotate the honor of mayor on an annual basis, choosing among the city commissioners for the responsibility to lead the meetings and help set agendas.