Mary Jo Durviage (left), president of the Dearborn/Dearborn Heights League of Women Voters, Valerie Murphy-Goodrich of the Dearborn/Dearborn Heights Chapter of the American Association of University Women and Melvindale Mayor Stacy Bazman are honored at the local AAUW chapter’s annual Marge Powell Leadership Awards.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – From sidewalk cracks to balancing a city budget, two-term Mayor Stacy Bazman has provided a patience, gracious leadership to the city’s residents, from its preschoolers to its centenarians.
In recognition for her leadership and the example she sets for future female leaders, Bazman was honored by the Dearborn/Dearborn Heights AAUW chapter March 6 during its Marge Powell Leadership Award presentations.
The Marge Powell Leadership Awards are given to girls with demonstrated leadership, who are graduating seniors from each of Dearborn’s public high schools: Dearborn, Edsel Ford and Fordson high schools.
Bazman, along with Mary Jo Durivage, president of the local League of Women Voters, and Valerie Murphy-Goodrich, a leader with the local AAUW, shared their leadership stories with the young awardees and other attendees.
Bazman urged the high school awardees to get involved with public service at an early age.
“It is very important for the young generation to step up and get involved and help wherever they can, because these organizations are all very important, and you should look at what they offer, what they stand for and what you stand for and how you can better connect with them, and definitely do your part,” Bazman said.
Bazman said she was Melvindale’s youngest city council member and then its youngest mayor.
She said she likes visiting with school children as mayor, but she has to remind them that she can’t solve all problems, and can only work to solve city issues, like reopening the city pool that was closed for several years when the city was hit by financially challenging times.
“When you are a city official, you take on a lot of roles,” Bazman said. “You are a social worker, you’re an ear. I used to go and walk my dog every night, and we both looked forward to it, and then when I got into office I realized ‘Gosh, this streetlight is out here,’ and ‘This sidewalk is uneven,’ and this is now my problem.
“You can’t really call and complain to yourself that your street didn’t get plowed. So, it is a lot of responsibility, and you should take a lot of pride in it and put yourself in everyone’s situation.”
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected].)