Contact:
Matt Bach
Michigan Municipal League
C: (810) 874-1073; [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2021
Port Huron Mayor Pauline Repp Retained as President of Michigan Association of Mayors
Hastings Mayor David Tossava Selected as Vice President
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — The mayors of Port Huron and Hastings were recently selected to lead the statewide Michigan Association of Mayors (MAM).
Port Huron Mayor Pauline Repp was appointed to a third, one-year term as president of MAM and Hastings Mayor David Tossava was selected for a one-year term as vice president of the association. Both were selected Sept. 23 at the organization’s annual board meeting, which took place during the Michigan Municipal League 2021 Convention in Grand Rapids.
The Michigan Association of Mayors (MAM) is the official nonpartisan organization of Michigan’s chief elected officials. Representing 139 Michigan communities, MAM works to assist the chief elected officials of cities, townships, and villages; advance the various interests and operations of communities represented by its members and all Michigan communities; promote cooperation among communities statewide; and advocate local interests at the state and federal level.
Repp was born in Kent County, England and grew up in both Canada and the United States, obtaining her U.S. citizenship in 1988. In 1983, she began work at the City of Port Huron as executive secretary to City Manager Gerry Bouchard. Repp was promoted to the position of city clerk in 1989 and served in that capacity for nearly 20 years, retiring with the designation of Master Municipal Clerk. In 2009, she ran for a position on city council. As the top vote-getter, she was appointed mayor. Subsequently, the position of mayor became an elected position, and she has since been elected five times. Repp completed Level 1 of the Elected Officials Academy (EOA), has served on the League Board of Trustees (BOT), and was a member of the BOT Convention Ad-Hoc Committee.
“I’m honored that my fellow chief elected officials selected me to continue as MAM president for another year,” Repp said. “Our organization is working hard to help our communities emerge from the pandemic and highlight programs that address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues that are top of mind for many of us.”
One new offering this year, Repp said, is a two-day Mayors and Presidents Institute for MAM members and non-members taking place in November. The training recognizes the unique challenges faced by chief elected officials and it will focus on key municipal issues, including the Open Meetings Act, ethics, social media, running effective meetings, working with the media, election preparedness, and much more.
Tossava was elected mayor of the City of Hastings in November 2016. He began his career working for the Department of Public Works for the City of Hastings as a mechanic in 1978. Tossava held that position for 22 years before being promoted to superintendent of the Department of Public Works, a position he held until retiring in January 2006. He spent a total of 28 years working for the City of Hastings.
In November 2008, Tossava was elected to his first term as a city councilmember. He served two four-year terms as councilmember before being elected mayor in 2016. As mayor, he serves on the Planning Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Local Development Finance Authority and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Hastings-Barry County Airport Board, Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board, and the Commission on Aging Board for Barry County.
Prior to being named MAM vice president, Tossava served on the MAM board for several years. He also is on the Michigan Municipal League’s Workers’ Compensation Fund Board. Tossava replaces as vice president, Ferrysburg Mayor Rebecca Hopp, who is not seeking another term as mayor in her community.
“I am honored to serve as vice president of this excellent organization,” Tossava said. “I look forward to working with MAM President Repp to help lead our fellow mayors and village presidents through the next year.”
The group also selected St. Johns Mayor Eric Hufnagel to serve on the MAM board. In addition to Repp, Tossava, and Hufnagel, the board is comprised of Auburn Mayor Lee Kilbourn, Bad Axe Mayor Kathleen Particka, Baraga Village President Wendell Dompier, Fremont Mayor Jim Rynberg, Zeeland Mayor Kevin Klynstra, and Monroe Mayor Robert Clark.
For more information, contact Matt Bach, assistant director of strategic communications for the Michigan Municipal League, at [email protected] or 810-874-1073.
About the Michigan Association of Mayors: The Michigan Association of Mayors (MAM) is the official nonpartisan organization of Michigan’s chief elected officials. Representing more than 100 Michigan communities, MAM works to assist the chief elected officials of cities, townships, and villages; to advance the various interests and operations of communities represented by its members and all Michigan communities; to promote cooperation among communities statewide; and to advocate local interests at the state and federal level.