The City Commission appointed Lynn Ward Gray to serve as the next at-large commissioner; she was sworn in at last night’s meeting, and will serve until the November election.
Gray received six votes from the commission, enough to receive the appointment. Candidate Kelli Grenfell received two votes, from Commissioners Jim Lance and Sherry Sofia. The commission interviewed six candidates during the regular commission meeting.
Gray previously served on the city commission from 2009 to 2020. She served as vice mayor from 2014-2015. She has served on numerous city boards and committees, including as liaison for the Youth Advisory Board, and is currently active on the city’s Planning Commission.
She is a development officer for the Battle Creek Community Foundation, and serves with multiple community organizations.
Former Vice Mayor Kaytee Faris resigned from the commission on June 7, because her family was moving out of state. The city charter requires the commission to appoint someone to fill a vacant seat within 30 days.
The commission votes among its members to choose the vice mayor; they did not do that Tuesday night, and likely will do so during the July 19 regular meeting.
All nine city commission seats are available in this year’s elections. Petition packets are available now in our City Clerk’s Office, Room 111 at City Hall. Petitions with the minimum number of valid signatures are due back by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26.
Candidates in our five wards must get 50 signatures from registered City of Battle Creek voters; mayor and at-large candidates must get 100 signatures.
For more information, please visit battlecreekmi.gov/elections or call 269-966-3311.
Alerts Sign-up