Politics & Government

Troy Mayor Argues with Proclamation Recipient During Meeting (With Video)

Troy Mayor Janice Daniels argued with former council member Mary Kerwin about the origin of Kerwin's recent 2012 Distinguished Citizen award.

Troy Mayor Janice Daniels argued with the city's 2012 Distinguished Citizen while handing her a proclamation during Monday evening’s Troy City Council meeting.

Daniels insisted that the award going to former Troy City Councilwoman Mary Kerwin, a supporter of the effort to recall the mayor, was from the partisan Troy Democratic Club.

Daniels faces a recall election on Nov. 6. 

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The honor, which is bestowed annually to one individual who is most dedicated to bettering the community of Troy through volunteerism, is given out by non-partisan Leadership Troy at the community organization's annual Community Awards Banquet in October.

Daniels began by saying, "This was a proclamation that was given to Mary Kerwin in recognition of being the Democrat Club Troy's Citizen for 2012, Distinguished Citizen for 2012."

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Kerwin interrupted Daniels to clarify the award was not from the Troy Democratic Club, to which Daniels replied: "Yes, this was given to you by the Democratic Club, my understanding is."

Daniels' comment drew an audible reaction from some members of the audience before she continued reading the proclamation itself (see attached PDF file).

“In my years of public service, I have never seen a mayor be so dismissive of a city proclamation during a formal presentation," Kerwin said. "It felt dismissive, and that’s unfortunate, especially when it comes at a time that should be spend recognizing the volunteer efforts of our community.”

During the meeting, participants in Troy Patch's meeting live chat also expressed shock at the mayor's gaffe.

"WOW! Get it right, Janice!" wrote exTroyGal.

"Oh my gosh," wrote LKBennett, who then added, "Go Mary Kerwin for pointing out that she is wrong."

"So inappropriate, Mayor Daniels," wrote RedHawk.

"Our mayor is a disgrace," wrote Sharon.

On Twitter, @TroyMIPolitics tweeted to @JaniceTroyMayor: "The Leadership Troy's Distinguished Citizen 2012 is NONPARTISAN #TroyMI"

Daniels did not immediately return calls from Troy Patch asking for comment Tuesday morning.

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Daniels took office in November of 2011 and first came under fire in December for her anti-gay Facebook comment. She has remained the center of controversy after voting against the Troy Transit Center (a scaled-down version was later approved), telling the Troy High School Gay-Straight Alliance she would bring in an expert to tell them  comparing the dangers of homosexuality to the dangers of smoking cigarettes on a radio show, and writing a lengthy position paper some viewed as personally attacking city employees and council members.

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