It is my great pleasure to write you as your newly elected Mayor. I do not take lightly the responsibilities you have given me and will do everything in my power to serve you with integrity, passion and diligence.

On behalf of the citizens of Oak Park, I want to express my thanks to Mayor Gerald Naftaly who served the City with distinction and devotion for more than thirty years as a Council member and Mayor. I wish him only the best, now and in the future.

I also want to express my appreciation to our City Council: Mayor Pro Tem Angela Diggs Jackson, Emile J. Duplessis, Paul H. Levine and Michael M. Seligson; I look forward to working with each of them for the benefit of our city.

These are hard times that will require difficult decisions, and I have already begun the process of engaging with our City departments and staff and look forward -- along with the help of our City Manager Richard Fox -- to ensuring that we continue working together to provide high quality responsive service to our citizens.

As I promised during my campaign, I am reaching out to our local businesses to encourage the growth and stability of those companies and enterprises who are investing in our community. In the near future I will be facilitating the creation of an active business association to help attract new businesses and to meet the needs of existing companies and retail establishments to revitalize our City and expand our tax base.

During the campaign, I visited thousands of citizens, and look forward to continuing that dialogue with our residents. To that end, I plan to begin a regular meet and greet with citizens to discuss their needs and concerns. I look forward to this new and exciting challenge and welcome your input. Should you wish to contact me, please feel free to email me at mmcclellan@ci.oak-park.mi.us or call me at 248-691-7410 or attend "Mondays with Marian" from 10AM to 11AM at the Community Center. It is vital to the future of Oak Park that communications with our citizens and business community improve. Please continue to have your voice heard by contacting me with your thoughts, comments and concerns.

With all good wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Very truly yours,
Marian McClellan