Two new members will join the Battle Creek City Commission. There was one challenger who won a ward seat by defeating an incumbent city commissoner.
Battle Creek EnquirerGovernment Accountability reporter Jennifer Bowman joined WMUK’s Gordon Evans Wednesday morning to break down the results in Battle Creek.
Kaytee Faris won an at-large seat in her second bid for Battle Creek City Commission. Bowman says Faris has stayed active during the last two years and worked to get her name out.
Kate Flores defeated incumbent Dean Newsome in Ward Three. Bowman says Flores is well-known in the non-profit community. Ward Three has been the area where it’s most likely that voters will make a change in recent elections. Bowman says the ward on the north side of Battle Creek and has different priorities than other areas of the city. She says if there is no progress on those issues voters have shown a willingness to make a change.
In addition to Newsome, Jeff Domenico won’t be back on the city commission. He chose not to run in Ward Five. At-large commissioner David Walters ran in that ward and was unopposed. Bowman says Domenico’s departure could mean an opportunity to change the “persistent discord” among commissioners. Domenico clashed with his fellow commissioners often during the last year over city administration and oversight of the police department.
Last year city commissioners settled on Deb Owens as mayor and Lynn Ward Gray as vice-mayor after a marathon meeting. Bowman says David Walters, who served as mayor before Owens, has expressed interest in holding the post again. But Bowman says the addition of Faris and Flores could change the dynamic. She says the two new commissioners worked together and would likely support Commissioner Andy Helmboldt for mayor if he throws his hat in the ring.
