Stuart Bikson retains mayor’s gavel

ROCHESTER — Stuart Bikson will continue to lead the city of Rochester as its mayor through 2024 following a unanimous vote of the Rochester City Council.

Bikson, a teacher at Waterford Mott High School, was first elected to the council in 1999, and he previously served as mayor 2006-08, 2011-12, 2019-23. He has lived in the city for over 30 years.

Bikson thanked his peers for electing him mayor of Rochester for another year — through November 2024.

“It’s a great honor to serve as mayor of the city of Rochester. It’s also a great honor to be voted in by my peers on council,” Bikson said during the Nov. 27 council meeting. “I promise to do my best to lead this city forward.”

Nancy Salvia, by unanimous vote, was elected to remain as mayor pro-tem for another year. Salvia, a financial advisor, has lived in the city for 15 years and has served on the council since 2017, including committee work in infrastructure, facilities, trees, the Community House and the Older Persons’ Commission.

“We are so blessed to live in this amazing city and be part of its governing structure,” Salvia said during the meeting. “I look forward to serving with this excellent City Council.”

Every year, the Rochester City Council elects 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 per meeting.

Council members Marilyn Trent and Douglas Gould, along with newcomers Debbie Jones and J. Christian Hauser were also sworn in during the meeting.

“I believe our City Council is strong, and I’m looking forward to the next two years of moving forward,” Bikson said.

Rochester City Council meetings are typically held inside Rochester City Hall, 400 Sixth St., at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of every month.

For more information or to tune in virtually to a live meeting, visit www.ci.rochester.mi.us.