Mayor Lori Blong reunited with her predecessors, continuing a tradition started by former Mayor Bobby Burns.
Blong stated in an August 20 Facebook post that she was joined at City Hall by Burns himself; Carroll Thomas; Patrick Payton, whom she succeeded following her electoral victory in 2022; Wes Perry; and Mike Cannon. J.D. Faircloth participated in the reunion via Zoom.
The city described the gathering in a Facebook post as "a meeting of Midland minds," adding that it represented "the past and present of our city’s leadership all in one room."
Blong expressed gratitude for the strength and wisdom derived from shared experiences. According to her, the past mayors are just a phone call away, providing insight or context for the situations Midland faces today.
The mayor said that the lunch tradition exemplifies leadership and commitment to putting Midland first.
Ex-mayors Ernest Angelo and Jerry Morales were absent due to prior commitments.