Mayor Tygrett’s Inauguration Speech

I want to acknowledge my wife Amy and two children, Alice Elizabeth and Ty, for making it possible that I be here today. They have each been a great support to me and I couldn’t be here without them.  I want to acknowledge the attendance of my father and mother, who traveled from Texas to be with us this evening. I am honored to see so many distinguished elected officials, leaders of our faith communities and dear friends. I am pleased to see that Clarkston's finest and bravest are represented as well.

Thank you all for the honor of electing me to serve you.

I want to sincerely thank the candidates who participated in this year’s elections. Pat Davis-Morris, Karen Feltz, Rosemarie Nelson and Joyce Wade have all worked tirelessly to serve our City and it is because of their dedication and commitment that this Council and community have so many opportunities ahead of us.

With a new Mayor and four new Council members this year, there will never be a better opportunity to take a fresh look at the efficiency of Clarkston’s municipal government.

This Administration will build on the foundation laid down by our former elected officials and community leaders and will at the same time create new platforms from which to launch community improvements for future generations.

Elected officials have the enormous responsibility to clearly articulate our citizens’ vision for our City. Accordingly, those of us who are newly charged with the stewardship of Clarkston must always remember that our responsibility is not only to those we represent today, but to tomorrow's generations – our young people – who represent our future. I am committed to involving the youth of our community and to encouraging them to take pride in our City.

Since we have asked property owners to sacrifice by paying more in property taxes in recent years for the betterment of our future, we have an obligation to make our best effort to do more to control municipal property taxes and to create an efficiently governed City Hall.  I have challenged our Council to create a sustainable plan that allows us to enact fiscally responsible policies.

Clarkston is a city of diversity, but it is also a city of commonality. We all have a common interest in betterment of our community. We all have a common interest in keeping Clarkston as affordable as possible. We all have a common interest in preserving our City for future generations.

Now is the time that we join together with our local business sector, our faith communities, our neighborhood associations, our refugee communities and non-profit agencies with the mutual goal of improving the quality of life for all residents.

We will step up efforts to engage our refugee communities in a positive and productive partnership to promote cultural awareness and respect of Clarkston's diverse population through events and communication.