Hamburg Township Man Running for County Commission

A long-time Livingston County teacher and coach has filed his nominating papers to run for the Livingston County Commission from the Hamburg Township area.

Jim Katakowski on Tuesday submitted his papers to the Livingston County Clerk’s office to run as a Democrat for County Commission District 8.

“I believe we should all be active participants in our community,” Katakowski said.

“I believe in providing our citizens with a thriving business atmosphere, safe neighborhoods and roads, a clean environment, as well as excellent schools. As County Commissioner I intend to bring a voice of collaboration to the board of commissioners and look forward to serving all the members of our community.”

Katakowski has lived in Livingston County for 38 years, including 16 years in Hamburg Township. For 30 years, he worked as a special education teacher in the Brighton Area Schools, teaching emotionally impaired and learning disabled students and mentoring them to achieve at the highest level of their ability.

After retiring from teaching in 2005, Katakowski has continued to coach cross-country and track teams at Scranton Middle School. He also coached soccer in Hamburg Township for many years while his children were growing up. In the year 2000, he received the Coach of the Year award from the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association, the first middle school coach to be so honored.

Katakowski has a Bachelor of Science and master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in speech and language pathology.

His hobbies include running the trails of Bishop Lake Recreation Area, biking on the Lakeland Trail, kayaking the Huron River, golfing on the county’s many courses, reading, and spending time with his grandchildren.

            He is married and he and his wife Mimi raised their four children, now grown, in Livingston County. They have four grandchildren, including three who live in the county.

            County Commission District 8 includes all of Hamburg Township, except Precinct 3 in the northwest part of the township, plus Green Oak Township Precinct 8.