Press Release

For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2009

Contact: Andrea Messinger
Ph: 517-908-0302

MML Announces 2009 Legislator of the Year Award Recipients

Award Honors Saginaw, DeWitt and Burton Lawmakers

ANN ARBOR, Mich—For their instrumental actions in the Michigan State Legislature on behalf of Michigan's cities, villages and urban townships, three legislators have been chosen as the 2009 Legislator of the Year Award recipients by the Michigan Municipal League (MML).

Reps. Andy Coulouris (D-95, Saginaw) and Paul Opsommer (R-93, DeWitt) and Sen. Deborah Cherry (D-26, Burton) received the Award.

MML Executive Director and CEO Dan Gilmartin said, "The legislators we've chosen to honor through this Award have clearly demonstrated their support for communities and the League's legislative priorities, for that we are extremely appreciative."

In making the announcement, Robin Beltramini, Troy City councilmember and former MML president, said:

Sen. Cherry pushed amendments the League advocated in the Appropriations Committee; spoke out in committee and on the full Senate floor about the importance of the funding; and worked closely with the League on transportation funding bills.

Rep. Coulouris has assisted the League with revenue sharing efforts, talking to his leadership about minimizing proposed revenue sharing cuts, and working to get the restoration of those cuts out of the House–which was successful.

As an active supporter of the League, Rep. Opsommer introduced legislation to amend the Urban Cooperation Act last session. He also worked with the League on a bill last session to grant core community tools to rural townships.

Award recipients were recently honored during MML's 2009 Annual Convention in Kalamazoo.

For photos, click here.

The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington DC and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials and; assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. For more information, visit mml.org.

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