Meet the 2025 City Council Candidates

The Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce will host a **Meet the Candidates Forum tomorrow at 7 PM at City Hall**. This event gives residents the opportunity to hear directly from the five candidates vying for two City Council seats and to learn more about their backgrounds and perspectives.

The public is invited to attend in person or watch online via the City’s YouTube Channel or via Zoom. Questions for the candidates can be submitted in advance to Chamber Executive Director and moderator for the event, Bonnie Kulp, at **director@harborspringschamber.com**.

For more information, please visit the Chamber website.

Below you’ll find short bios as published on the Chamber website for each candidate to help introduce them ahead of the event.

### Candidates Bios:

#### Incumbent - Kathy Motschall **Personal Life: ** I have lived in Harbor Springs since 2011 and in Northern Michigan for 38 years. I was married to Paul Motschall, widow since 2020. Hobbies are gardening, travel and reading. **Professional Life: ** I was a CPA for 40 years, and I worked in both public accounting and private industry. I retired as CFO of Walstrom Marine in 2019. **Volunteer activities: ** I have served on HS City Council since 2023 and I have previously served on the Tree board and Harbor commission and currently I am on the Zoning Board of Appeals. I have been a volunteer Income tax preparer through AARP Foundation since 2022. I am currently the secretary of the Petoskey Sunrise Rotary club and active in the club’s community activities.

#### Candidate – Jeanne Benjamin I am a lifelong Harbor Springs resident and graduate of Harbor Springs High School, with a B.A. from Michigan State University. For over 40 years I’ve worked in retail management — much of it right on Main Street — while also raising my son and staying active in our community through the School Steering Committee and the Harbor Springs Ski Boosters.

I have served more than a decade in city and county roles, including the Downtown Development Authority (formerly DBC), City Council, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Boards of Appeals (in both Harbor Springs and West Traverse). Over the years, I have worked closely with the last three City Managers, always focusing on teamwork and results.

I am running for City Council because I believe what makes Harbor Springs truly special is not only its beauty but its people and strong sense of community. My goal is to bring authentic hometown values, fiscal responsibility, and a community-first perspective to every decision — so the work I do always serves the people who make this town their home.

#### Candidate - Bill Donohue I first came to Harbor Springs in 1981, to go skiing with a customer. I was in the baking industry and my customer managed one of the largest oven manufacturers serving large, wholesale bakeries (think Wonder Bread, Sanders, Awrey). It was a perfect, winter weekend and Harbor looked like something out of a Currier and Ives print. It was beautiful and I knew right then, I loved this place. About 6-months later this same customer called to say he was moving his company to North Carolina and did I want to buy his house. The answer was a quick “yes” and we have had a home up here since 1982.

I grew up in Evanston, IL graduating from high school in 1962. Right after high school, I joined the marines and served from 1962-65. After my service, I enrolled at Bowling Green State University( Ohio) graduating with a degree in Economics in 1969. I met my wife, Claudia at Bowling Green, and we were married my Junior year.

After graduation I went to work for a large steel company (Inland Steel) based in Chicago. Over the next 5-years I moved to St. Louis, Houston, Kansas City, and finally back to Chicago where I began my career in publishing and stayed in publishing (mostly serving the baking industry) for the rest of my career. After 11-years at Gorman Publishing in Chicago, I left to start my own company, Donohue-Meehan Publishing in Des Plaines, IL. We published to the bakery market and convenience store companies and soon, both publications were number one in their fields. In 1998 I sold the company to Penton Media in Cleveland, and we went public on the NYSE, where I served on the board of directors for 2-years. In 2005 I left to form Harbor Communications, another publishing company, and launched Club & Resort Business, a business magazine for the mangers of city, golf, and country clubs. I retired in 2014 and moved to London to pursue a Masters in Military History with the University of Buckingham.

I mention the various moves to illustrate just how much I love and appreciate Harbor Springs. There is no other place like it and that is why I am running for City Council. It’s vital that whatever decisions the town makes, it not only doesn’t detract from the charm that is Harbor, but in fact enhances it.

I am running on the following principles…

• Any changes in our zoning must preserve the unique charm of Harbor Springs. Any movement that detracts from this I will vigorously oppose.

• Our schools are sacrosanct. I will support any and all sensible initiatives to maintain or improve the quality of our school system.

• Our city should fund the basics. I want good streets and roads, well maintained sidewalks, and basic infrastructure.

• Live within our budgets. We receive money from the taxpayers to maintain Harbor Springs to the citizen’s expectations. It is our job to spend it responsibly.

• Less government is good governance. I will resist any attempt to expand governmental authority into our private lives or property.

I ask for your vote on November 4. If you give it to me I promise to a) live up to the above principles, b) always be honest in the reasons for my votes and c) most importantly work to maintain the charm that is Harbor Springs.

#### Candidate - David Lamarche Hello - My name is David Lamarche and I am running for a seat on the Harbor Springs City Council. My wife and daughter and I have been full-time residents of the Harbor Springs Area since 2014, the last five within the city proper.

I believe strongly in serving the greater need and, to that end, have served as the Treasurer for Northmen Den Youth Pantries and Little Traverse Sailors, as well as a board member on the Harbor Springs Area Sewage Disposal Authority.

I feel that anyone who spends time in this wonderful city contributes in some way to the charm and character we all love and wish to preserve, and everyone deserves to be heard.

I also feel we need to be planning for our future needs, especially where infrastructure is concerned. I look forward to sharing my opinions and beliefs in the coming weeks and to learn more about what concerns you.

#### Candidate - Nancy Rondel My name is Nancy Rondel and I am running for City Council in Harbor Springs. I have lived here since 1979 and been a voter since 1980. I have worked, played, raised a family, joined a church, owned a business, made friends, entertained visitors and served on Council for 4 years. I have volunteered and helped neighbors in our city for over 40 years. Harbor Springs is my home and I care about the people that live here.

A bit more about my experience working with city government. I served for 4 years on our City Council from 2020-2024. I also was a member of the Tree Board and the Planning Commission during this time. I am very familiar with working with teams and being a good listener. Most of my work life has been in the nursing world which demands team work, listening skills, compromise, collaboration, compassion and caring for others.

It is very important when serving in city government to understand that you are there for your constituents, not for yourself. You must speak and act for the common good of the people you represent, not for yourself or your personal agenda.

### **Closing Note:**

The City Council election will take place on **Tuesday, November 4, 2025**. Absentee ballots will be available ahead of Election Day, and additional information can be obtained online or from the City Clerk’s office. Tomorrow’s forum is a chance to hear directly from the candidates before casting your vote.