City Council Deadlocked to fill Empty Council Seat

Hello, Friends of Grand Haven.  City council went home deadlocked 2-2 at a meeting on Thurs, Aug 22, 2024.  Council met to fill a seat Ryan Cummins vacated in early Aug.  The law gives council 30 days to fill the open seat.  Council will try again at 6:00 pm on Wed, Aug 28, 2024.

Five candidates bid for the seat.  Two remained after one round of voting: Mike Dora and Erin Lyon.  Three more rounds remained at 2-2 each time.  Council called it a day nervously close to the 30-day window.

Three votes are needed to pick a winner.  What happens if council fails?  There’s no built-in tool to break a tie.  The city clerk will explore possible paths.

A couple thoughts:

1. Ask the Michigan Municipal League.  Other government units may have faced this.
2. Ask the Michigan AG’s office.  It likely has an AG Opinion on point.
3. Ask an Ottawa county circuit judge to break the tie.  They have extraordinary authority.

Both finalists have compelling values.

Council members favoring Mike Dora stressed:

• He has served on council before and can hit the ground running.
• He has special expertise with the chemical cleanup on Harbor Island.
• He is a life-long resident of Grand Haven.
• He is deeply civic minded and involved.
• He listens and communicates well with the public.

Council members favoring Erin Lyon stressed:

• She is a local business owner.
• She is well educated and a quick study.
• She is a 20+ year resident of Grand Haven.
• She is deeply civic minded and involved.
• She is the next generation.

Friends of Grand Haven, council gives the usual 3-minute comment times.  If you have a view on one of the finalists, attend the meeting and voice your views.  Send in your written comments to council.  There is no campaigning and it’s up to council to fill this open seat.  Somebody on council must change their vote to break the tie.  Public sentiment might carry the day.  Thanks.  Brent