Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Battle Creek Mayor & City Commission Election 2026

9 of 9

council seats up

7 contests

17 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Find a candidate

Mayor · 1 seat

Mark A. BehnkeIncumbentMayor; two-year term ending November 20269sourced
Lynn Ward GrayFormer Battle Creek vice mayor and city commissioner.1sourced
Tino W. SmithPastor, entrepreneur and educator who is a former Calhoun County Commissioner. His campaign site says he has more than 40 years of work serving people and building organizations.4sourced

City Commission At-Large · Vote for up to 3

City Commission Ward 1 · Unopposed

Jessica LaCosseIncumbentWard 1 Commissioner; two-year term ending November 20268sourced

City Commission Ward 2 · 1 seat

City Commission Ward 3 · Unopposed

Patrick A. O'DonnellIncumbentWard 3 Commissioner; two-year term ending November 20269sourced

City Commission Ward 4 · Unopposed

Christopher C. SimmonsIncumbentWard 4 Commissioner; two-year term ending November 20268sourced

City Commission Ward 5 · Unopposed

Jim LanceIncumbentWard 5 Commissioner; two-year term ending November 20268sourced

All nine seats are on the ballot: the mayor, three at-large commissioners and five ward commissioners. Wards 1, 3, 4 and 5 each list one candidate on the City Clerk's list.

1 note on these statements

Diop Harris is a write-in candidate for Ward 3, according to the Battle Creek Podcast. Battle Creek Podcast · Oct 1, 2026

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesHousing and development incentives, Budget, millage and water and sewer rates, Open government and public records Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Housing and development incentives

Where it standsThe commission approved a brownfield plan for The Fields at Battle Creek in June and again on September 1, and adopted a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes ordinance for Liberty Commons on September 15.

What's on the tableThe next commission decides whether to grant tax incentives to housing projects and how to act on the city's Housing Strategy plan.

On September 1, 2026 the commission approved a Brownfield Plan for "The Fields at Battle Creek" development by a 7-2 vote. City of Battle Creek · Sep 1, 2026
At the September 1 public hearing, John Hughes of Battle Creek Unlimited said the project was income restricted, based on 100-120% of area median income, and not subsidized housing. City of Battle Creek · Sep 1, 2026
On September 15, 2026 the commission adopted an ordinance authorizing a payment in lieu of taxes for the Liberty Commons Apartments and Townhomes project, 9-0. City of Battle Creek · Sep 15, 2026
On July 21, 2026 the commission voted 8-0 to distribute the proposed Housing Strategy Subplan of the Master Plan for review and comment. City of Battle Creek · Jul 21, 2026

Budget, millage and water and sewer rates

Where it standsThe commission adopted the 2026-2027 budget and millage rates on June 2 and approved water and sewer rates for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 on June 16.

What's on the tableThe next commission adopts each year's budget and millage rates and can revisit utility rates.

On June 2, 2026 the commission approved the 2026 millage rates and the fiscal year 2026-2027 General Fund and Special Funds budgets, 9-0. City of Battle Creek · Jun 2, 2026
On June 16, 2026 a motion to postpone the vote on water and sewer rates until July failed 4-4. City of Battle Creek · Jun 16, 2026
On June 16, 2026 the commission approved water and sewer rates for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, 6-2. City of Battle Creek · Jun 16, 2026
On July 21, 2026 Commissioner Christopher Simmons said he had received many calls about recent high water bills. City of Battle Creek · Jul 21, 2026

Open government and public records

Where it standsThe commission votes on whether to affirm each partial denial of a FOIA request, and tabled an Administrative Hearings Bureau ordinance on July 21.

What's on the tableThe next commission decides how public-records requests, hearings and ethics rules are handled.

On September 1, 2026 the commission affirmed the partial grant and partial denial of FOIA request 26-1592, 7-1. City of Battle Creek · Sep 1, 2026
On July 21, 2026 the commission tabled proposed ordinance #16-2026, which would establish an Administrative Hearings Bureau, 8-0. City of Battle Creek · Jul 21, 2026
On July 21, 2026 Mayor Mark Behnke suggested establishing an ad hoc committee of four commissioners and nine residents. City of Battle Creek · Jul 21, 2026

Police cameras and oversight

Where it standsResidents raised the city's Flock cameras at public comment on September 1 and 15, and the commission keeps appointing members to the Community Oversight Board.

What's on the tableThe next commission decides whether to renew Flock camera agreements and how police oversight is staffed and funded.

On September 1, 2026 a resident asked the commission not to renew future Flock camera contracts, saying they violate residents' privacy. City of Battle Creek · Sep 1, 2026
On September 15, 2026 a speaker expressed concern about the renewal of the Flock camera agreement and asked the commission not to renew it. City of Battle Creek · Sep 15, 2026
On August 18, 2026 the commission approved a Police Officer Liaison Agreement with Battle Creek Public Schools for the 2026-2027 school year, 9-0. City of Battle Creek · Aug 18, 2026
On September 15, 2026 the commission appointed Jesse Mosier as an alternate member of the Community Oversight Board, 9-0. City of Battle Creek · Sep 15, 2026

Local authority and state legislation

Where it standsOn August 18 the commission passed a resolution opposing House Bill 5123 and Senate Bill 719.

What's on the tableThe next commission decides whether to take formal positions on state bills that affect the city.

On August 18, 2026 the commission passed a resolution opposing House Bill 5123 and Senate Bill 719, 5-4. City of Battle Creek · Aug 18, 2026
The resolution says the bills would limit local video franchise authority and exclude streaming video services from the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act. City of Battle Creek · Aug 18, 2026
Commissioner Patrick O'Donnell said franchise fees are collected by local governments to maintain the right-of-way infrastructure used by video franchise services. City of Battle Creek · Aug 18, 2026
Vice Mayor Sherry Sofia said it was not appropriate for the Commission, as a body, to weigh in on state legislation. City of Battle Creek · Aug 18, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should the city use tax incentives, such as brownfield plans, to support new housing?
2. How should the commission handle multi-year water and sewer rate increases?
3. Should the commission take formal positions on state legislation?
4. What should the city do about fees for public-records (FOIA) requests?
5. What should the city do about the Flock cameras used by police?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Election DayCity of Battle CreekNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 9 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

The City Commission is made up of nine elected officials: five ward commissioners representing geographic districts, three at-large commissioners serving the entire city, and the mayor, elected citywide. City of Battle Creek
Voters elect the mayor as a separate office; this began in 2020. City of Battle Creek
After each election the commissioners select a vice mayor from among themselves to serve a two-year term. City of Battle Creek
On May 5, 2026 voters approved a charter amendment extending mayor and commission terms to four years, beginning at the organizational meeting held after election certification. City of Battle Creek
The commission holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. City of Battle Creek

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