Rochester

Bikson, Cuthbertson retain mayor, mayor pro tem positions

By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer

ROCHESTER — On Nov. 27, Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson and Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Cuthbertson were elected by their fellow City Council members to retain their positions for the next year.

“We don’t have to change the signs, so it works out great,” Council Member Ben Giovanelli said with a chuckle during the meeting.

Every year, the Rochester City Council elects two of its members to one-year terms for the part-time mayor and mayor pro tem positions. The mayor is paid $65 per meeting, while the mayor pro tem and other council members are paid $55.

Bikson thanked his peers for electing him mayor of Rochester another year — through November of 2013.

“It’s always an honor to be voted in by your peers as mayor. I will continue to work very hard. As I’ve said in the past, I think this city council is very strong and I’m looking forward to working together into the future,” he said during the meeting.

A 21-year resident of Rochester, Bikson has served 14 years on council, previously serving as mayor from 2011-2012 and from 2006-2008. Bikson is a special education teacher at Waterford Mott High School who teaches government and economics. He has a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oakland University.

The council, by majority vote, also named Cuthbertson its mayor pro tem. Cuthbertson kept his comments short and sweet during the meeting.

“Thank you very much,” he said to the council following the vote.

Cuthbertson is a lifelong resident of the Rochester area and has been a member of City Council since 2005. He served as mayor from 2008-2011. He is an attorney in private practice, advising corporate and individual clients in business and financing transactions. Cuthbertson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan, as well as a law degree from Cooley Law School.

Rochester City Council meetings are held at City Council Chambers inside the Rochester Municipal Offices, 400 Sixth Street, at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of every month. For more information, visit www.ci.rochester.mi.us.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at malmond@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1060.