Former Brainerd mayor and City Council president Bonnie Cumberland, who passed away in February at age 67, was recognized by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) Aug. 21 during the Coalition's three-day summer conference in Rochester for her excellence in service to Greater Minnesota.
The Jack Murray Award is given to city officials who demonstrate knowledge, leadership, and active participation in CGMC program areas over their public service career. The award is named for Jack Murray, mayor of International Falls, who was instrumental in CGMC's formation.
An ardent supporter of the Brainerd community and the CGMC, Cumberland spent many years in public service. She served as mayor from 1991 to 1998, and then was elected to City Council in the 2000s. She was serving as president of the City Council at the time of her death. Cumberland also formerly served on the Brainerd Public Utilities Commission, the Minnesota Mayor's Association and as a member of former Lt. Governor Dyrstad's committee on local/state government relationships and the subcommittee on mandates.
"Bonnie was well known throughout the state for her warm personality and her strong sense of civic pride," said Randy Wilson, president of the CGMC and mayor of Glencoe. "She was always a great advocate for the CGMC and Greater Minnesota issues. We were all saddened by her death; she will be dearly missed."
