For neighbors looking for a way to get more involved in your City of Battle Creek community, consider running for a seat on the Battle Creek City Commission!
Candidate packets became available Monday, June 3, and those wishing to run can collect signatures now.
All nine seats on the commission are available this year. Here are some things to know if you’re thinking of running for city commissioner:
- We have one mayor, who is directly elected on the ballot. They must be a City of Battle Creek registered voter and collect 100 to 150 valid signatures from other Battle Creek registered voters.
- We have three at-large commissioners, who represent the entire city. They must be Battle Creek registered voters and collect 100 to 150 valid signatures from other Battle Creek registered voters.
- We have five ward commissioners, who represent neighbors in specific geographic areas. They must be Battle Creek registered voters, live in the wards they wish to represent, and collect 50 to 75 valid signatures from other Battle Creek voters registered in that same ward.
City Commissioners serve as a connection between neighbors who live in the city, and city staff. They meet twice a month, typically on the first and third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. They consider the city budget each year, city projects, development of all types, local ordinance changes, and much more. They learn about the many issues that involve a full-service city through packets of information prepared for each meeting; city staff work with them and answer questions along the way. The commission also holds workshops, extra meetings where they do not take action, but learn about and can ask questions about a particular issue.
Candidates must return completed petitions and Affidavits of Identity by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23 to the City Clerk’s Office, currently in their temporary location of Room 216 at City Hall, 10 N. Division St. (Watch for them to return to Room 111 soon.)
Except for the petitions and affidavit, all other related documents are available on our website, battlecreekmi.gov/elections. You can find additional candidate and election information there, too.
For hard copies of documents, to pick up packets, or with questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office in Room 216 at City Hall (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday), at 269-966-3311, or at CityClerk@battlecreekmi.gov.
The primary election is Aug. 6 and the general election is Nov. 5. Remember that registered voters can complete absentee ballots, or vote in person during nine days of early voting before each election. Visit our website to learn more about all the options, battlecreekmi.gov/elections.