Newly re-elected Wyandotte City Treasurer Todd Browning (left); Councilmembers Patrick Sutka, Kelly Stec, Todd Hanna, Robert Alderman (ninth from left), Adriana Cerulla and Chris Calvin; and City Assessor Theodore Galeski are sworn in by City Clerk Lawrence Stec (eighth from left) during the Wyandotte inauguration June 2 at Yack Arena.
Newly elected Wyandotte City Councilmember Patrick Sutka, wearing the vintage city council badge of his grandfather George Sutka, smiles following the first council meeting of his new term June 2.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – The inauguration of the city’s newly elected mayor, city clerk, treasurer, city council and assessor was held June 2 at Yack Arena with family and friends in attendance.
The outgoing city council met for one final session, during which Mayor Robert DeSana thanked outgoing City Councilmembers Rosemary Suryan, who did not run for re-election, and Kaylyn Crayne, who was not re-elected, for their service to the city.
Twenty-Seventh District Court Judge Elizabeth DiSanto then swore in re-elected City Clerk Lawrence Stec.
Stec then swore in re-elected Mayor DeSana, followed by re-elected Treasurer Todd Browning and City Assessor Theodore Galeski, and incumbent City Councilmembers Kelly Stec — who, as the highest vote getter, becomes the mayor pro tempore — Chris Calvin, Todd Hanna and Robert Alderman, and newly elected Councilmembers Adriana Cerulla and Patrick Sutka (who served three non-consecutive terms on the city council in the past).
Cerulla said she was “super excited” and can’t wait to serve the community.
She said she decided to run for office to become more involved with the city.
Wyandotte City Clerk Lawrence Stec (left) poses with Deputy City Clerk Beth Lekity June 2 prior to the city’s inaugural ceremony at Yack Arena.
“My number one goal is to make sure that the community and the residents are heard,” Cerulla said. “I think that Wyandotte does really well with giving our residents attention, so I’m just here to make it even better.”
DeSana thanked the outgoing city council for the many things they achieved during the past four years.
“The proof of the pudding is right outside here,” he said, gesturing to the construction outside Yack Arena. “The downtown infrastructure was huge, with these alleys that are 70, 90 years old.”
DeSana said projects like the downtown infrastructure don’t happen without a team effort.
He said the incoming city council inherited that project and has others ahead of it.
Newly elected Wyandotte City Councilmember Adriana Cerulla smiles following her first council meeting June 2.
“If a city doesn’t have projects, you don’t have a city,” DeSana said. “We’ve been fortunate in Wyandotte for a lot of years to have projects to just try and keep up with the world for that matter.”
DeSana said Wyandotte is the second oldest incorporated city in Wayne County, next to Detroit.
“So, we’ve been around a long time,” he said. “Anyway, keep up the good work, and I look forward to working with you all.”
Sutka, who served three non-consecutive council terms in the past, was wearing the vintage Wyandotte City Council badge of his grandfather, George Sutka.
“We have a very proud history in Wyandotte, including a rich ethnic heritage, with generations of families,” he said. “I sincerely believe that we have something special in Wyandotte.”
Sutka said he is excited to be part of Wyandotte’s future.
“Wyandotte will be facing several challenges in the next four years because the only constant in life and city government is change, but with our efforts, it will be positive change,” he said.
Browning said that it takes courage to actually run for office.
“You make decisions that some people like, and you make decisions that some people don’t like,” he said. “However, they show up every council meeting.
“Coming here and doing what you do is admirable, and you should be proud.”
The outgoing Wyandotte City Council meets for one last session June 2 at Yack Arena before the inauguration of the incoming council.
The newly elected Wyandotte City Council, treasurer, clerk, mayor and assessor are seated with other city officials following the inauguration June 2 at Yack Arena.
Re-elected Wyandotte Mayor Robert DeSana (left) is sworn in by City Clerk Lawrence Stec during the inauguration June 2 at Yack Arena.
Outgoing Wyandotte City Councilmember Kaylyn Crayne, who was not re-elected, is thanked by Mayor Robert DeSana prior to the inauguration June 2 at Yack Arena.
Outgoing Wyandotte City Councilmember Rosemary Shuryan, who did not run for re-election, is thanked by Mayor Robert DeSana prior to the inauguration June 2 at Yack Arena.
Friends and family of newly elected Wyandotte city officials attend the inaugural ceremony June 2 at Yack Arena.