Moore than a mayor

Madam mayor has earned her seat at the table

By Latoya Williams

There’s no question as to why Delta College has considered Brenda F. Moore as one of its most distinguished former students because Madam Mayor is definitely a history maker.

Moore graduated from Delta 1987 and earned her associates degree in liberal arts. There wasn’t a moment during her time at Delta when she knew that life would guide her into a legacy or leadership like the history of records, she is currently breaking 

“There were a few professors of mine that I had that said I’d be a great debater,” Moore said.

While attending school at Delta College, Moore, like many other people around that age, was already doing a balancing act between parenthood, caring for family members and trying to provide for the family.

Her first foray into politics came in the early 2000s after the closure of the Buena Vista school district.

“I was at the state capital building on the elevator with state Senator Mike Rodgers,” Moore said. “I said to him, you have to take this issue in there. Something had to be done about these kids losing their school.”

The response that Moore received from him showed her that she needed to get more involved. In 2013 she got the seat at the table that she had been asking for, with her election to the Saginaw City Council. 

Her brightest moment would come in 2020. After serving as the mayor pro tem for the city, Moore was elected by the city council in a unanimous vote to be its next leader. She was the third African American woman to lead Saginaw. 

To balance the immediate needs of the residents with her long-term goals for the city, Madame Mayor understands that she’ll never be able to please all of the people all of the time, but she will seek the greater good for all the people she serves.

When the pressures of life and wearing many hats begin to weigh heavily on her to stay grounded, she always turns to prayer and meditation, seeking counsel and wisdom before she acts on any decision. 

“I have to make sure I am not hurting the people who put me in this position, so that if they see me fit, they will put me here again.”

In 2023 she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Delta, which is awarded to recognize certain individuals who have made a significant contribution to Delta and its students. The award to her personally meant growth, as she acknowledged the journey she has undergone from her being a Delta graduate from then to now.

Awards often reflect the recipients’ journey. Moore hopes her journey inspires current and future students at Delta college.” 

“Follow your dreams, but don’t just dream,” Morre noted “figure out how best to turn that dream into your reality, and be yourself. Most importantly love thy neighbor.”

Madame Mayor would give current and future students interested in attending community college 

“Stay at home as long as you can when you’re starting out, Delta is a great school to get the basics and feel for what a four-year college is going to look like. To the current students give yourself a chance, you got this, now make your dreams your reality.”

To hear from Mayor Moore, and the future plans for the city of Saginaw. Tune into the state of the city address on Feb. 12. The address begins at 7 a.m. and is at the Dow Event Center.

Editor’s Note

A previous version of the article referred to Mike Rogers as a “congressman.” At the time, Rogers was a state senator.