By Kay Scrimger
July 27, 2009

The China Association of Mayors is among the many people and organizations that have expressed sadness over the loss of Patrick J. McManus, former mayor of Lynn (MA) and Conference of Mayors Trustee. He died suddenly on July 10.

In a special message to Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran, the China Association of Mayors Vice President Madam Tao Siliang and Deputy Secretary General Wang Changyuan extended their “most profound condolences.”

The message read, “Mayor McManus made outstanding contributions on exchanges and cooperation between our two organizations and cities, and we have always regarded him as a good friend of the China Association of Mayors.”

McManus led the U.S. Conference of Mayors' delegation of mayors to the Second Sino-U.S. Mayors Summit, held in China in 2000. He was joined in the delegation by North Little Rock (AR) Patrick Henry Hays, the late Conference Past President Dearborn (MI) Mayor Michael A. Guido and Past Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner.

On the year 2000 mission to China, the Conference of Mayors signed the Suzhou Accords with the China Association of Mayors, which contained the first Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. Then'suzhou Mayor Chen Deming, a personal friend and colleague of McManus, hosted the MOU signing. Chen is the current Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.

Cochran said, “We deeply appreciate the thoughtful message from the China Association of Mayors. Mayor McManus was a key initiator and supporter of the Conference of Mayors' ten-year relationship and six summits with the China Association of Mayors, and we continue to exchange best practices and explore solutions to our many common urban challenges.

“His enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication helped forge the strong ties we have today with the China Association of Mayors. We are grateful to him for his many contributions to the Conference of Mayors, as Trustee, co-chair of the Mayor Water Council, and leader on so many other issues, including his vibrant interest in building our long-term relationship with the China Association of Mayors and the mayors of China.”

Cochran noted, “For the McManus family, China is a deeply personal place. It is the birthplace of four of their five adopted children.”