City Councilor DeBeck named Brewer mayor
Wednesday, November 21, 2007

While growing up in the city's south side, Manley DeBeck never imagined he would someday become the mayor.

However, serving his community is something he has always strived for and after getting re-elected in November to a third three-year term on the City Council, his fellow councilors picked him for the post.

"This is really something for a kid that grew up in South Brewer," DeBeck said Tuesday after the City Council's annual organizational meeting adjourned. "To become mayor of the city of Brewer is something that I don't know I even dreamed of. It's something I'm very pleased and proud of."

DeBeck's wife, daughter and sister-in-law were in the crowd of residents who gathered for the meeting, held this year at the Muddy Rudder.

Newly elected Councilor Arthur "Archie" Verow, who retired as City Clerk in April after 40 years and who earned a seat on the board during the Nov. 6 election, was named deputy mayor.

During his mayoral address, DeBeck thanked residents for believing in him and for trusting him.

"I believe in our city and our future," he said.

He stressed the importance of public service and of teamwork in making the city better.

He said it is the city's teamwork that helped to open the closed doors at the Eastern Fine Paper Co. mill and change it into "the largest economic development in 30 years."

DeBeck worked at the mill for 18 years before being laid off in 2004 when the mill closed. Cianbro Corp., a Pittsfield construction company, is changing the century-old industrial site into the Eastern Manufacturing Facility and will construct building modules at the site starting in April 2008 with approximately 500 employees.

"I am a positive person and I enjoy turning adversity into positive results," he said. "You only need to look at the Cianbro sign at the old Eastern site to see that."

He also listed the second Eastern Maine Healthcare System building on Whiting Hill, the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, Lowe's, Walgreens, the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, and other projects as examples of positive progress in Brewer's recent history.

"These are some very exciting times for the city of Brewer and I am proud to be a part of it," DeBeck said.

DeBeck ended his address by thanking the city's department heads, city employees and City Manager Steve Bost.

"This is a group that does their job with professionalism and integrity," he said.

The City Council also set meeting dates and times for the next year with all meetings to begin at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. City Clerk Howard Kroll also swore in Ruth-Marie Spellman as the new Brewer High School district trustee.

During a special school committee meeting held earlier in the evening, Chairman Mark Farley and Vice Chairman Mark Chambers were reappointed, for the third year in a row, to lead the board.

A copyright article from the Bangor Daily News by Nok-noi Ricker, Wednesday, November 21, 2007.