Incumbents Ling, English keep Mount Pleasant City Commission seats

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Incumbents Nancy English and Kathy Ling will retain their seats as city commissioners for three more years.

English, Central Michigan Community Hospital’s business development liaison, received 38 percent of the vote Tuesday, while Ling, a retired high school teacher, received 34 percent. Todd Gurzick, owner of ToDblD’s Party Store, 104 E. May St., received about 15 percent and Attorney Lesley Hoenig received 12 percent.

“I’m very happy to be re-elected,” Ling said, “and I’m grateful for support that I got.”

Ling said she encourages Gurzick and Hoenig to stay involved in city government.

The Mount Pleasant City Commission consists of seven citizens elected for three-year terms. The commission appoints the mayor and vice mayor from among its members at the first meeting each January.

The commission can adopt ordinances and laws, as well as levy taxes to cover the cost of providing necessary services for citizens.

English said she was humbled by the win and will take her job seriously.

“I’m committed to moving forward and making decisions for this community so we can continue to make this a great place to live,” she said.

City charter amendment

Mount Pleasant residents also adopted an amendment to the city charter, with 55 percent of the total voters approving.

The amendment eliminates the requirement in the city charter stating appointed members of the Principal Shopping District Board must be qualified electors of the city.

To be a qualified elector, a person must live within city limits. The conflict with the original section stemmed from the fact owning or managing a business downtown did not mean a person was a qualified elector.

The change allows members of the board to be from adjacent residential areas, a representative of the cit, or the nominee of an individual business located within the principal shopping district.