Focus Please

## Election News Harbor Light News Charles O’Neill Nov. 5, 2025: As posted on the Emmet County Clerk’s website Wednesday morning, Nov. 5, emmetcounty.org, unofficial results from the November 4, 2025 election show Jeanne J. Benjamin and incumbent Kathy Motschall as the top vote-getters in the Harbor Springs City Council race. Benjamin secured 297 votes, while Motschall received 270 votes, for the two open council seats.

William C. Donohue followed with 238 votes, Nancy Rondel with 220 votes, and David Lamarche garnered 145 votes. A total of 1,170 votes were cast for City Council members in Harbor Springs’ Precinct 1. The precinct saw a 51.09% voter turnout, with 609 out of 1,192 registered voters casting ballots. All votes were recorded on Election Day, with no absentee ballots reported in Harbor Springs.

## A nutty week The Mayor and his son sent a private endorsement letter for Jeanie Benjamin and Bill Donahue. By the weekend, he was accused of violating campaign law for using Graham Real Estate letterhead and signing it “Mayor Graham.” Abusing his office.

Apparently, political endorsements are now illegal in Harbor Springs.

PS: They’re not.

## What Happened The City Manager resigned last week. His contract requires 60 days’ notice. He gave 45. Last day: December 16.

On Thursday, Mayor Graham and Councilwoman Reeves met at City Hall for about an hour with City Treasurer Nick Whitiker. They asked about several city issues, his perspective on the City Manager search, and what to look for in the next manager. They included Tom Richards, the previous City Manager, for additional context. The current City Manager was not in the office.

As they walked out, Mark Rondel confronted them. Accusing them of having a secret meeting and violating the Open Meetings Act.

It wasn’t.

Two Council members asking staff questions to inform their thinking on a City Manager search is not illegal. It’s their job.

Over the weekend, a Facebook group posted outrage about this “secret meeting” at City Hall. The post suggested they’d broken the law, but offered the caveat: “I am not a lawyer.”

How is a meeting during the day in City Hall a secret?

## Monday’s City Council Meeting At Monday’s City Council meeting, with very little on the agenda, a group of citizens stood up and hammered Tom and Wendy. What was said? You broke the law. We demand an investigation. Kate Spaulding from the newspaper, who rarely attends, happened to be there. We wait for that article.

Councilmember Jamie Melke expressed outrage. She demanded the City Attorney investigate, report to Council, and examine this “improper behavior.” Melke and Motschall questioned whether this would impact the election. (It doesn’t.)

Council voted to have the City Attorney investigate, get transcriptions from everyone present, and convene on Thursday, November 6th, to report findings. Tomorrow at 3 PM. Zoom Meeting, You Tube

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## What Really Matters The election is over. Jeanne Benjamin and Kathy Motschall won. Big congratulations to each of them! Newcomers David LaMarche and Bill Donahue carried many voters who wanted their candidates to help set a new course for the City Council and to help hire a new City Manager. The election is now over, yard signs come down, and the community can work together.

Now, the community can focus on city business.

- We have less than 45 days to gather input on what citizens want in the next City Manager, start the search, fill the role, and/or find an interim.

- We have a statutory requirement to complete the 2026 capital plan before Christmas.

- We must appoint new members to boards and commissions. Will you volunteer?

## What’s Next The capital plan, a new City Manager being hired, and utility project financing are in the works. The new City Manager may bring Harbor Springs a dazzling future. We want to stay focused on positive and local.

The capital plan needs to focus on mission-critical spending.

Despite false accusations, We Love Harbor Springs spent $0 on political campaigns this year. We spent money, volunteer time, and resources on building consensus, improving zoning, audio/visual, and ensuring transparency. We believe the upcoming zoning changes and these council results will be proof of the community’s effectiveness in getting along.

Our focus: achieving cooperation. Leveraging the financial strength and cohesion of our entire community to protect, preserve, and adapt Harbor Springs.

We invite the new Council to do the same. With the right tools, guidance, and respect for the democratic process, the city can build and lead a government that works for and with everyone.

We encourage the City Council to engage with city staff more often to better understand operations and to improve their individual ability to discern the City's priorities. Council Members asking perfectly normal questions outside the formality of Council Meetings should not be perceived as improper.

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