Warren District 1 Councilwoman Melody Magee is sworn in by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Teri Lynn Dennings during an unofficial ceremony Saturday at Warren City Hall.
(PHOTO BY SUSAN SMILEY)
Seven Warren councilpersons and City Treasurer Lorie Barnwell were sworn in Saturday morning during an unofficial ceremony held in the atrium of Warren City Hall.
Barnwell ran unopposed, but the seven councilpersons all ran in competitive races across the city. At-large councilpersons Dave Dwyer and incumbent Angela Rogensues were sworn in by 37th District Court Judge Steven Bieda as were District 4 Councilman Gary Boike, District 5 Councilman Hal Newnan, and incumbents District 2 Councilman Jonathan Lafferty and District 3 Councilwoman Mindy Moore.
District 1 Councilwoman Melody Magee, who is the first Black person to be elected to the Warren City Council, was sworn in by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Teri Lynn Dennings.
Magee spoke briefly, her voice cracking with emotion, and thanked her family for working hard on her campaign. She mentioned her father, who helped her campaign in her first failed city council campaign in 2019 and passed away in 2022, and her mother who she lost shortly after moving to Warren in 2000.
“They are gone but they are with me,” Magee said. “Their strength is with me, the giving of their heart is with me.”
Magee said her campaign slogan “I have the heart to serve” truly reflects her commitment to the community.
“City of Warren, expect a giver, expect a server, and expect a problem solver,” Magee said.
Overwhelmingly the theme of the ceremony was that of positive change for Michigan’s third-largest city.
“I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Elect Lori Stone and I think all of us are going to work collaboratively together and we are going to move the City of Warren forward,” said Dwyer, who is the son of Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer.
Stone attended the ceremony and sat on stage with those who were being sworn in, but did not speak at the podium.
“I’m just here to show my support for the city council and the treasurer,” said Stone.
Stone said she expects to be sworn in officially along with the seven councilpersons on Nov. 20 after the election has been certified by Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini.
Bieda said the unofficial ceremony was planned to give the elected officials’ families a chance to gather and celebrate.
