PORTAGE (WKZO AM/FM) — Portage Mayor Peter Strazdas concluded his State of the City Address with the announcement that after 16 years on the Portage City Council he will not be running for reelection this fall. He says he will continue in the post through the end of his term.
He says he has been asked about it often and had just learned about a “personal health challenge” that had him and his family reevaluating their priorities. He said he may return to public service in the future but for now he plans to take a break.
Leading up to the announcement he mentioned that the city was in good hands with the current administration and council.
Strazdas said they had steered the ship “in a steady manor and placed us in a safe harbor at this point in time that many cities in Michigan aspire to be in…and this gives me great comfort for our future….”
In fact for the better part of an hour prior to the announcement, his State of the City address
focused on all the positive aspects of life in the city of Portage, its prospects, its operations and its infrastructure.
Strazdas has been a moderating influence between two different factions on the Portage City Council for the past few years and there could be quite a different dynamic once he leaves office after the November 7th election.