Tell us about your family
My wife Bethany is a marriage and family therapist. Troy has a favorite Baker and it’s not me! It’s her for sure. She’s the best part of me and the best part of our family. We’ve been together for 26 years now, and there’s no one I trust more. I almost can’t put it into words. She’s the warmest, kindest, most genuine person I’ve ever met, and she makes me a better person every day.
We have three wonderful children – Arden, Canaan and Aven. We wanted names that would be fairly unique. Our older daughter is Arden; it means passion and great beauty. Shakespeare’s mother was actually named Mary Arden, and we just liked it. Our son Canaan was named for the biblical Promised Land, which is called the land of milk and honey. Our younger daughter, Aven, was named for a type of wildflower that’s delicate on the outside but strong on the inside. It just fit her from the moment we heard it.
Oh, and then there’s Rutherford, our cavapoo. We call him Ruffy.
What is Bethany’s focus as a therapist?
Her work is centered on Emotionally Focused Therapy, or EFT. She was the first certified EFT therapist and the first certified EFT supervisor in Michigan and she co-founded the Michigan Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (MichiganEFT.com). It’s statistically the most effective form of relationship and couples therapy.
Mental health is a broad and serious issue in this country, so I’m very proud of what she’s doing in this field. She helps families and couples enjoy healthier homes and relationships, while my work as mayor is centered on helping make Troy a great place for everyone to live, work and play. So, we complement each other well.
What are your favorite family activities?
We love to travel. We’re a family that loves spending time together. We take a lot of road trips, and we love to explore new things as long as all five of us are together. It’s not so much about the destination; it’s about the time we spend together.
Personally, I like to run, mostly throughout our parks and neighborhoods. And I love reading about history and historical figures, such as the Founding Fathers, first ladies, governors, senators and former presidents.
So, who’s your favorite president?
I never answer that question because it can incite so many feelings! The reality is, I like so many different parts of so many presidents and it’s impossible to pick just one. I worked for President Reagan for nearly five years, so I obviously liked him. He’s the one I know the best, so how about that for an answer?
What excites you most about Troy?
Troy is about as perfect a city as you can have. We have residents who are truly kind and community-based. We have every type of restaurant and retail you could want. We have a business district that’s a powerhouse of the state. All these things together make this the place to be now and into the future.
Why did you want to become mayor?
I wanted to be a positive influence on the city and promote it in a way that would make this an even more amazing place to live and do business. I felt the community needed a mayor who would do everything he could to grow and evolve the city and help it stand out as the best place in Michigan. We’ve had to do this through some tough and challenging times, and even with the success we’ve had, we have more work to do.
"Troy has a favorite Baker and it’s not me! It’s Bethany for sure. She’s the warmest, kindest, most genuine person I’ve ever met, and she makes me a better person every day."