Councilmembers choose Londeau as new mayor

Mayor Michael Londeau

Michael P. Londeau has been chosen as the ninth mayor of the City of Westland.

Londeau, the president pro tem of the Westland City Council, was selected by his fellow council members to serve as mayor until November, when voters will choose a candidate to complete the remaining two years of former Mayor William R. Wild's term of office.

Westland resident and current State Rep. Kevin Coleman has announced that he will seek the mayoral term for a second time. He was defeated in his last bid for the office which pays $126,281 annually by Wild. 

Wild resigned the mayoral position after 16 years to become president and CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association.

Londeau, 44, is a lifelong resident of the city, was elected to the city council in 2017. He also served as the chairman of the Westland Downtown Development Authority and was a member of the Westland Master Plan Steering Committee and a member of the Westland Youth Assistance Advisory Committee. He also served on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council and numerous other city committees. He also volunteered with several local non-profit organizations, according to  a prepared statement from the city.

Following his election by a 5-2 vote of his fellow council members, Londeau said, “I never thought that my life's journey would lead me here ... I just want all you guys to know that it's an honor and privilege that I will not take lightly.”

The dissenting votes came from Councilman James Godbout, who was also nominated for the mayoral position and Councilman Peter Herzberg. 

In his prepared statement, the new mayor said, “It is truly an honor to be the mayor of the city I have spent my whole life in. I want to thank the Westland City Council for this opportunity. I look forward to demonstrating my work ethic and results-driven agenda to our 85,000 residents.” 

The council members chose Councilwoman Andrea Rutkowski as the council president pro tem, Londeau's former assignment on the council. Delano Hornbuckle, a member of the Westland Planning Commission was appointed to fill the vacant seat on the city council.