Cooper Charter Township (Kalamazoo Co.) Supervisor Jeff Sorensen has been honored by the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) as the Association’s newest life member. He received the “MTA Life Member Award” before nearly 1,000 of his township peers and special guests at an award ceremony at the MTA Banquet, held during the Association’s Annual Conference & Expo earlier this month in Grand Rapids. Sorensen served as MTA president for an unprecedented two-year term in 2019 and 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have served my community for nearly 40 years, and I have been blessed,” said Sorensen, who was first elected supervisor in 2020. “Township government is the closest to the people—we are grassroots government. The most beautiful part of being in township government and being a public servant is that we are accessible. It’s helping people, helping people grow, helping people with their problems, and listening. And it is doing the best job that we can for our communities.”
Sorensen first joined the MTA Board of Directors in 2008, and served as MTA District 19 director, representing townships in Allegan, Barry and Kalamazoo Counties until his presidency. In addition to serving as township supervisor, Sorensen spent 20 years serving the township fire department, including as assistant fire chief from 1988 to 2000.
Sorensen is president of the Kalamazoo County MTA Chapter, a past president of the Kalamazoo County Council of Governments, former volunteer for the Greater Kalamazoo United Way, and current member of the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study, Kalamazoo Regional Water and Wastewater Commission and Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Advisory Council.
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The Michigan Townships Association advances local democracy by fostering township leadership and public policy essential for a strong and vibrant Michigan
Photos by David Trumpie, Trumpie Photography