Ten Most Powerful Leaders in Saginaw, Mich

An evaluation of the 10 most powerful leaders in the struggling (cynics say dying) auto town of Saginaw, Mich., looks far different than it would have appeared a half century ago.

In 1960, according to U.S. Census data, Saginaw's population peaked at 98,265. In the 2010 census count, the number dips all the way down to 51,508.

The most powerful list in 1960 would have included a large number of business executives, who virtually hand-picked the City Council. When urban decline took root during the late 1960s and started to accelerate during the 1970s, many in the "leadership class" moved to the suburbs and lost interest.

The result is that many of the individuals on the current top 10 most powerful list are public administrators. Saginaw city government operates with a strong appointed executive, similar to a corporation or to a school board, and so the elected officials have less power.

With that, here is our top 10 list of the 10 most powerful people in the City of Saginaw:

(10) Richard Syrek, Saginaw Intermediate School District superintendent.

Syrek brings more than 20 years of experience as an education administrator in the region. Michigan, even more so than many other states, faces a severe funding pinch for K-12 education. Syrek's solution is to seek an increased local property tax for special education, to pay for mandates that have drained the regular budget.

(9) Marc McGill, Saginaw County controller

The City of Saginaw increasingly relies on the larger county for support. McGill is a 10-year veteran who has focused on belt-tightening, while winning a property tax for countywide law enforcement that helps offset city cutbacks.

(8) Leola Wilson, president, Saginaw NAACP

Wilson is in a role that typically is occupied for four of five years at a typical NAACP branch.. She is approaching her 20th year at the helm and is influential in the national organization. It isn't all politics; Saginaw has one of the nation's strongest NAACP youth programs, with students achieving multiple awards in ACT-SO, the Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics.

(7) Greg Branch, Saginaw mayor

In Saginaw's form of government, the mayor's official powers are mostly limited to chairing the City Council meetings as simply one of nine votes, and cutting ribbons. However, Branch is a former journalism student, now an ad executive, who knows how to use the media to promote various issues and projects.

(6) Marv Hare, Saginaw County treasurer.

Normally, a treasurer simply collects the taxes, which in a place like Saginaw involves plenty of late fees and mortage foreclosures. However, Hare has gone beyind his basic duties to organize a "land bank authority" that captures abandoned properties (including 4,500 in the city) and keeps them out of the hands of negligent land speculators who are inspired by TV's phony infomercials.

(5) Michael Hanley, Saginaw County commissioner

Hanley formerly was a City Council member and a state representative who served as Democratic minority leader before term limits pushed him out of the state capitol. He also was president of Saginaw's largest United Auto Workers union, Local 699. His wide range of experiences gives him influcence.

(4) Odail Thorns, Saginaw city development director

Thorns is a retired General Motors executive who brings a unique private sector perspective to local government. He has taken charge of Saginaw's $17.4 million share of President Obama's economic stimulus initiative, focused on tearing down hundreds of abandoned houses and repairing the comparative handful that still have value.

(3) Richard Garber, owner and president, Garber Management group

Saginaw residents would think of "Garber Buick," although for years the auto dealership, like many across the nation, has incorporated Toyotas and the like. Garber is the only businessman included in our top 10, which reflects Saginaw's decline. He was the last auto dealer to reluctantly leave the city for the suburbs, but he continues to support worthy city causes and he brought minor league hockey back to town with his purchase of the Saginaw Spirit franchise.

(2) JoAnn Crary, director, Saginaw Future

Sagianw Future is the local sparkplug for the limited economic development that Saginaw still manages to attract. Until 1980, there was instability with various directors hired from out of town and departing almost as soon as they arrived. Crary, a product of the regional tourist town of Frankenmuth, has brought stability.

(1) Darnell Earley, Saginaw city manager

In Saginaw's 65-year-old form of government, the city manager is the leader as long as he or she can retain the favor of the City Council. Earley came to Saginaw from Flint, where he was a state-appointed troubleshooter to help remove Flint from bankruptcy. He also has helped to remove Saginaw from potential budget deficits, as the inevitable and unavoidable loss of various city services. His experience is so deep that his is president of the International City/County Managers Association.

(Michael Thompson, Saginaw born and bred, was a local reporter for 31 years at The Saginaw News.)

SOURCES

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/03/census_2010_saginaw_buena_vist.html

http://blog.mlive.com/tricities/2007/11/richard_garber_jr.html