It only takes a few minutes with Portage City Councilman Ted Uzelac for his message to be clear. He is a strong and outspoken advocate of serving one’s community and country.
“I wanted to be a voice to let people know that this is a great thing we have here and we need to continue to practice it. There is such a thing as civic duty and you do have a duty to vote and you do have a duty to work for your community,” Uzelac said. “It’s not ‘I have a right to vote,’ you have a duty to vote.”
Uzelac, also a veteran and Portage Police officer, served his country at several points during his life. Shortly after graduating high school, he went to the army. After serving his tour he was granted an honorable discharge. He eventually volunteered to return after the September 11 attacks. Uzelac was stationed in Iraq from late 2004 to early 2006.
“I was asked by a newspaper reporter while I was over there why I volunteered,” he said. “It goes hand and hand with our history. Democracy needs a big brother sometimes. If it weren’t for the French helping us in our revolution, we wouldn’t be the Democracy that we are today. That’s how I felt when I was over there; that my service was helping a group of people that wanted to be free.”
Uzelac did not anticipate the political turmoil that comes hand in hand with being an elected official. However, he believes that jawing between politicians can be beneficial in the long run.
“The heat, fire and tumultuous yelling of debate sometimes make us stronger,” he said. “You have two people whose hearts truly want to serve and you push the politics aside and you get things done.”
The duty of a City Councilman is to represent his District. At-large members represent the people of the city. The job entails reviewing budgets and making laws. Uzelac is proud to serve the city that he calls home after serving America in the military.
“I moved here in 1975 and I’ve watched the city mature,” he said. “It’s not the same town, but it’s matured in a way that seems like it’s part of me. I moved here when I was a young kid and as the city’s grown so have I.”
Uzelac believes that positivity is part of the fabric of the city of Portage.
“We have a forward looking populous,” he explained. “It’s kind of like the whole idea of PortageLife. It’s a group of people that want to look toward the positive.”
Uzelac belongs to several civic groups and encourages all veterans to actively participate in them. In his spare time his favorite activity is hanging out with his children, ages 10 and 14.
On Independence Day, in addition to celebrating our Founding Fathers, celebrate and honor all men and women who have served our country such as active Portage community member, Ted Uzelac.