Mayor Jim Carruthers is the consummate public servant. He has served the citizens of Traverse City Michigan as commissioner on the parks and recreation commission and city council, and was elected Mayor in 2015. His love and passion for his hometown shines through in everything that he does however it has not come with challenges. Being Mayor of a small but growing city brings with it the challenges on local issues such as housing affordability and environmental conservation. Traverse City has become a sought after vacation and tourist destination but how does a Mayor balance that against the desires of the local residents?

We also spoke to Jim about how a kid from Cincinnati, Ohio and the University of Connecticut ended up settling in Traverse City over two decades ago and how a Supreme Court decision in 2015 changed his and his partner's (now husbands) lives forever. In addition to his advocacy for his hometown as Mayor, Jim is also deeply involved in the gay and human rights movement in Northern Michigan.