John C. Hertel

John C. Hertel was the Chairman of the Huron–Clinton Metroparks, Chairman of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, and General Manager of Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. He served three terms as State Senator for the 2nd District in Michigan from 1974 to 1982, was appointed by Governor John Engler to run the Michigan State Fair from 1993 to 2006, and is the only person in Michigan history to serve as chairman of the county boards of commissioners in two different counties (Wayne and Macomb).

The Honorable

John C. Hertel
Member of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority Board of Commissioners
In office
1983 – May 2, 2017
Succeeded byKurt Heise
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 2nd district
In office
January 1, 1974 – December 31, 1982
Preceded byCharles N. Youngblood, Jr.
Succeeded byBasil W. Brown
Member of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners from the 14th district
In office
January 1, 1989 – December 31, 2002
Preceded byWalter Franchuk
Succeeded byKurt S. Kramer
Member of the Wayne County Commission from the 1st district
In office
January 1, 1983 – December 31, 1986
Succeeded byDavid P. Cavanagh
Personal details
Born (1946-12-04) December 4, 1946
Detroit, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materWayne State University

Personal life

Hertel grew up in Detroit, MI, and attended Denby High School. His brothers Dennis Hertel and Curtis Hertel, and nephews Curtis Hertel Jr. and Kevin Hertel have also been elected to legislative seats. He raised his family in Harper Woods, MI, where he served in the State Senate and Wayne County Board of Commissioners, before moving to his current home in Lenox Township, MI where he served as Macomb County Commissioner. Hertel raises Percheron horses on his farm in Lenox Township.

Elected Office

Hertel has held three elected offices during his career:

  • Macomb County Board of Commissioners (Chairman from 1997 to 2002)
  • Wayne County Board of Commissioners (Chairman from 1985 to 1986)
  • Michigan State Senator, 2nd District (1974–1982 - Three Terms)[1]

Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Hertel was appointed as a Huron-Clinton Metroparks Commissioner five times:

  • 2013 by Governor Rick Snyder
  • 2005 and 2009 by Governor Jennifer Granholm
  • 1999 by Macomb County
  • 1995 by Governor John Engler
  • 1983 by Wayne County

Michigan State Fair

Hertel was appointed General Manager of the Michigan State Fair by Governor John Engler (R) and reappointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) from 1993 to 2006. He inherited the fair after its lowest attendance in decades, and was credited by many including Governor Granholm for, "directing the rebirth of the State Fair.[2]"

Southeast Michigan Transit

Hertel was CEO of the Regional Transit Coordinating Council (RTCC) from 2006 to 2010, where he successfully developed and shepherded the Regional Mass Transit Plan to gain approval of Macomb, Oakland, Wayne counties and the City of Detroit.[3] In 2010, Hertel was hired[4] as General Manager of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART).

On March 13, 2020, the Board of Directors of the SMART voted unanimously to terminate the contract of Hertel as its general manager. He's accused of parking personal cars at SMART facilities - an act the board says is a misuse of taxpayer funds.[5]

Other Notable Positions

References
  1. 1981-1982 Michigan Manual: John C. Hertel
  2. "Former Governors - Hertel Asks to Continue at State Fair; DeBeaussaert to Lead the Office of the Great Lakes". michigan.gov. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  3. Page 4, "Revisiting the RTCC" http://house.michigan.gov/hfa/Archives/PDF/TransportationDARTAupdate.pdf
  4. Hertel to lead SMART http://www.detroittransit.org/john-hertel-to-lead-smart/
  5. Michigan Radio, https://www.michiganradio.org/post/smart-board-fires-manager-parking-personal-cars-bus-facility
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