News & Events

December 12, 2006

Farewell to a Titan

My fiancée told me recently about a study showing the effects of teacher training on student test scores.  It appears that novice educators with some basic training are more effective teachers than people who come to the classroom with years of practical subject experience but no methods background.  The most effective of all are those teachers who have both the professional training to be an educator as well as years of experience in the field. 

The same can be said about municipal government.  Excellence is derived not exclusively from training, but from hands-on experience.  The best and most innovative government leaders have a decade or more under their belts as elected officials.  They understand how to move policy and how to motivate people.  They embody a passion for their communities and embrace opportunities for learning and growth.

Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido was one of the greats.  He recently passed away at the early age of 52, succumbing to a nine-month struggle against cancer.  Guido was elected mayor in 1985 and over the two decades that he led his beloved city, he rose to prominence as one of southeast Michigan’s most powerful political figures.  He worked on the local, state and national stages, winning accolades as he went along.  The Michigan Municipal League awarded Mayor Guido its highest distinction, naming him an Honorary Life Member.  At the time of his death, he was serving as president of the United States Conference of Mayors.  Most poignantly, he considered being mayor of his hometown his dream job – and he took that role to an exemplary level. 

Mayor Guido advocated for high speed rail in southeast Michigan, regional watershed management and brownfield redevelopment.  He grew into a complex understanding of race in our region, from a young official opposing bilingual education to a seasoned veteran who defended his Arab-American neighbors against a post-9/11 backlash.  He managed his city to prosperity through good times and bad, building strong relationships with local shop owners and the leaders of global corporations that called Dearborn home.

We remember Mayor Guido as one of the founding members of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, giving us a healthy push on our way to becoming the strong coalition we are today.  He was recognized throughout the region and the nation as a collaborative leader who could address complex issues without dividing the players.  His legacy is our very existence. 

Farewell, Mayor Guido.  We will miss your charm, your effervescent humor, your willingness to take the right kind of risks.  And we will honor your memory with continued vigilance and leadership.