Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel was in a playful mood at a glum gathering of local and state officials today in Sterling Heights.
Hackel offered a light-hearted moment by telling a story about last night’s Tiger game at Comerica Park. He said a foul ball off of Austin Jackson’s bat headed toward the section next to where he was sitting. A typical scramble for the ball ensued. One spectator, Hackel said, “a short guy, dives across the pavement, then he jumps up with the baseball in hand, and his hat still intact on his head.”
“It was our own Sterling Heights mayor, Dick Notte.”
That drew loud laughter from those on hand – state legislators, mayors and township supervisors, and a variety of other officials. Notte is well known in political circles for wearing stylish hats – inside and out – wherever he goes.
“I was in awe,” the county executive said, adding that many in the crowd seemed entertained by Notte’s effort. “Now, mind you, there were some teary-eyed children and disappointed senior citizens” around the mayor who wanted the ball but came up short.
Hackel offered a comical crack later in the program that seemed to go over the heads of some – though the many Democrats in the room may have quietly winced.
When legislators talked about not being sure what kind of property tax cut for business that Gov. Snyder will propose in the coming weeks, Hackel piped in: “When I stop by his fundraiser, maybe I’ll ask him. “
The executive took some flak from fellow Democrats recently when it was reported that he will be a featured guest at the Republican governor’s upcoming fundraising event in Sterling Heights. Hackel has staunchly defended that decision, and it appears that he’s so comfortable with it that he’s willing to joke about it.
Rubbing some salt in those intra-party wounds.
This afternoon, Hackel attended a grand re-opening ceremony for the Moravian Road bridge in Clinton Township. The new bridge replaced a narrow, crumbling structure that, Hackel said, was built in 1927.
That was back in the days of Franklin Roosevelt, the county executive told the crowd.
Oops.
1927 was before FDR, and even before Herbert Hoover. The bridge was built during the Calvin Coolidge administration.