By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – Walter Prusiewicz, who took over the city clerk’s position after the retirement of Judy Dudzinski March 31, wants his own term.
“Once I got here and started working, I decided I could do the city some good,” he said Wednesday. “I’m a newcomer to this political arena. Once I got in office, I decided to to seek political office for the first time.”
Prusiewicz said in a statement that he is up to the challenge. City Councilwoman Janet Badalow announced in March that she also will seek the position.
“I have worked hard all my life and am ready to do whatever is necessary, from clerical to administrative work, to guarantee that our citizens continue to receive a high level of service,” he said. He added that while he has been in office, he has made council documents available for viewing online.
“This will allow all citizens access to these materials along with a reduction in the use of paper and man-hours previously dedicated to producing hard copies of these documents,” he said, adding that he would like to update all the records, including whether businesses in the city are open or closed.
Prusiewicz began his career as a laborer for the Roads Division of the Wayne County Department of Public Services at the age of 19 and worked full time while also attending college and obtaining both his undergraduate and master degrees. He worked his way up through the ranks of Wayne County administration being promoted to an equipment operator and foreman.
In 1996 he was promoted to the Personnel Office, where he eventually became a department manager. He later served as assistant to the Wayne County Commission liaison and contract manager, a position in which he developed a system to track contracts voted on by the commission.
He retired in November 2006 and was rehired in 2007 on a contractual basis to continue working there. Eventually he became a legislative research assistant and was a clerk for commission subcommittee meetings.
Prusiewicz retired again in January 2009. He volunteered many hours at his son’s school and church and helping senior citizens in his neighborhood.
(Daniel Heraty can be reached at [email protected])