2008 Woodie Awards
City mayor decided tonight
By: Nick Persons
Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: News
City Mayor Jon Joslin could be re-elected to the same position at tonight's Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting.
Several commissioners believe Joslin will remain in his arrangement as mayor - mainly because there has yet to be a confirmed competitor.
"At this point, I haven't heard of anyone else that is running," Joslin said.
The city's new vice mayor also will be elected, and two new members will be sworn in at the gathering, which is set for 8 p.m. at City Hall, 401 N. Main St.
The mayor and vice mayor positions are reassessed annually.
Candidate nominations for both positions will be made at the meeting, followed by a voting process. A nominee must receive four votes to be elected and all candidates must come from within the seven-person commission.
Joslin has just finished his first year as mayor and has been urging for more stability in the position. He said solidity in office has many benefits.
"One of the things that we face in our city is fighting Lansing for revenue sharing," Joslin said. "We get down there and develop relationships, and then we change. Any kind of stability we establish in Lansing helps us with lobbying efforts we try to do down there."
Vice Mayor Race
The vice mayor race, however, is more speculative. None of the commissioners named an individual candidate, but Joslin mentioned Commissioner Jim Holton.
"I told him that if he was interested in running that I would support him," Joslin said.
The term of previous vice mayor, Steve Bissell, expired at the end of 2007.
New Commissioners
Kathy Ling and Jeffrey Palmer will be announced as the latest additions to the commission. They will take the spots of Bissell and James Moreno, whose term also expired at the end of the year.
Ling was a teacher in the social studies department for 25 years at Mount Pleasant High School prior to her retirement a year ago.
"I've always had a lot of interest in local government," Ling said.
She said she hopes to make the Mount Pleasant government more efficient - both between branches and when dealing with CMU.
"Cooperation between the city and the university is very important," Ling said. "It enriches our community."
Holton said the duo should be a welcomed addition.
"(Ling) has a fantastic political background," he said. "I think they're both going to be fantastic commissioners."
Joslin said Palmer was previously a lawyer, and this is his first stint in politics.
"He's very knowledgeable," Joslin said. "I look forward to working with him."
Palmer was unavailable for comment.
news@cm-life.com
Several commissioners believe Joslin will remain in his arrangement as mayor - mainly because there has yet to be a confirmed competitor.
"At this point, I haven't heard of anyone else that is running," Joslin said.
The city's new vice mayor also will be elected, and two new members will be sworn in at the gathering, which is set for 8 p.m. at City Hall, 401 N. Main St.
The mayor and vice mayor positions are reassessed annually.
Candidate nominations for both positions will be made at the meeting, followed by a voting process. A nominee must receive four votes to be elected and all candidates must come from within the seven-person commission.
Joslin has just finished his first year as mayor and has been urging for more stability in the position. He said solidity in office has many benefits.
"One of the things that we face in our city is fighting Lansing for revenue sharing," Joslin said. "We get down there and develop relationships, and then we change. Any kind of stability we establish in Lansing helps us with lobbying efforts we try to do down there."
Vice Mayor Race
The vice mayor race, however, is more speculative. None of the commissioners named an individual candidate, but Joslin mentioned Commissioner Jim Holton.
"I told him that if he was interested in running that I would support him," Joslin said.
The term of previous vice mayor, Steve Bissell, expired at the end of 2007.
New Commissioners
Kathy Ling and Jeffrey Palmer will be announced as the latest additions to the commission. They will take the spots of Bissell and James Moreno, whose term also expired at the end of the year.
Ling was a teacher in the social studies department for 25 years at Mount Pleasant High School prior to her retirement a year ago.
"I've always had a lot of interest in local government," Ling said.
She said she hopes to make the Mount Pleasant government more efficient - both between branches and when dealing with CMU.
"Cooperation between the city and the university is very important," Ling said. "It enriches our community."
Holton said the duo should be a welcomed addition.
"(Ling) has a fantastic political background," he said. "I think they're both going to be fantastic commissioners."
Joslin said Palmer was previously a lawyer, and this is his first stint in politics.
"He's very knowledgeable," Joslin said. "I look forward to working with him."
Palmer was unavailable for comment.
news@cm-life.com
