A Suffolk City Council representative and local business owner will be recognized as a “Hometown Hero” during the annual Hometown Heroes and Friends of Scouting Breakfast on May 3.

Mike Duman is the honoree for this year’s event. He represents the Chuckatuck Borough on City Council and is the owner of Mike Duman Auto Sales.

“It’s quite an honor to be recognized,” Duman said.

Duman is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Old Dominion University. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserve, has served on Suffolk City Council since 2011 and holds various leadership roles in organizations throughout the area. He serves on the Western Tidewater Water Authority and the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Board.

In addition, he is a member of the Ruritan Club and Elks Lodge and serves on the board of the Suffolk Humane Society.

Duman said he fondly remembers being involved in Boy Scouts and still remembers the lessons he learned.

“It’s the type of experience you can take with you through your life that affects how you approach things and responsibility and working with other people and having concerns for other people,” he said. “I wish there were more kids involved in Scouting today. It helps prepare you for the future.”

Dean Gould, district chair for the Colonial Trail District, said Duman is an ideal honoree.

“He’s gone on and done what Scouting’s all about in life and in his career,” Gould said. “That’s why we decided to highlight him this year.”

The event is the fourth annual fundraiser for the Colonial Trail District, which includes Suffolk and Isle of Wight and Surry counties. There are 29 units — including troops, packs, Venturing crews and Sea Scout ships — with about 900 Scouts in the district.

Last year’s honoree was city treasurer Ron Williams, also an Eagle Scout. Previously, Charles Pond was honored. The first year, several honorees included current Scouts and leaders who were honored for heroic, lifesaving actions.

“For our hometown hero award, what we look for is an exceptional individual who exemplifies the values of Scouting, which is our Scout oath and law, and they live those values,” said Zachary Oman, senior district executive for Colonial Virginia Council. “They don’t necessarily have to have been a Scout before, but all of our honorees have so far.”

Oman said the event is a great way to honor hometown heroes.

“It’s a great event to recognize a great person,” he said. “We always have the idea of who our superheroes are from our comic books and everything else, but it’s really cool when you think about who on a local level has made such a big difference in the lives of many people, which is what makes someone a hometown hero.”

The event is also an important fundraiser for the district and directly affects Scouts in Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Surry.

Tickets for the event are $35. Email zachary.oman@scouting.org by April 26.