Michigan Municipal League January/February 2024 Review Magazine

Robert E. Clark Michigan Municipal League President, 2023–2024

Occupation Retired from the Michigan State Police Political Experience

Clark served one term as a councilmember for the City of Monroe in 2008. He was elected mayor in 2010 and, following his win in November, he started his eighth consecutive term in January 2024. Interesting Tidbit Clark has a passion for genealogy and has completed 31 family history research projects, including his own family’s and for many friends. Role Models Clark named three role models who have been influential throughout his life: his mother; his professor at William Penn College, Gerald Simmons; and the late, former Monroe Mayor Mark Worrell. Hobby Clark and his wife foster dogs and puppies from the Humane Society of Monroe County, where they both volunteer.

Newly elected Board of Trustees President speaking at the annual League Convention at the Grand Traverse Resort in October.

While forging his legacies at the Michigan State Police and the City of Monroe, Mayor Robert E. Clark has consistently pursued service. He is continuing this dedication with his newest position as the president of the Michigan Municipal League’s Board of Trustees. “When I was young, my mother taught me about service to the public. Public service comes first before you think of yourself. If you engage in your community, you become a wealthier person in terms of relationships and growth,” Clark said. This lesson guided him to pursue a career in law enforcement. “I knew in high school that I wanted to work in law enforcement,” Clark said. Before starting his career, Clark studied sociology and psychology with a minor in interpersonal relations at William Penn College in Iowa. Through his studies, he gained priceless lessons about being a leader in public service. “I learned so much about how if you understand a person’s background, who they are, and what they are being exposed to in life, you have a better opportunity to understand and assist them,” Clark said. He explained that having empathy is important when serving those in your community, and it can help you make your community better.

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