BeldingNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Belding City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

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

Every voter can vote for up to three of the five candidates; the three with the most votes win four-year terms.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    • Jocelyn Benson · Democratic Party
    • John James · Republican Party
    • Anthony Hudson · Libertarian Party
    • Donna Brandenburg · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas Campbell · Green Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate
    • Abdul El-Sayed · Democratic Party
    • Mike Rogers · Republican Party
    • Lydia Christensen · Libertarian Party
    • Tim Long · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas P. Marsh · Green Party
    • Walter P. Kristy · Natural Law Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideSecretary of State · Attorney General · Member of the State Board of Education · Regent of the University of Michigan · Trustee of Michigan State University · Justice of Supreme Court
  • Statewide measures2 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01New housing and brownfield incentives3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn November 2025 the council adopted a Brownfield Plan for Building Belding, LLC by a 3-1 vote.

What's on the tableThe next council decides how to handle further housing projects and requests for brownfield tax-increment financing.

02City manager turnover4 sourced facts

Where it standsJohn Niemela was hired as city manager on July 27, 2026 for one year, through July 31, 2027, after Adam Poll resigned.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to extend the city manager's contract or search for a permanent manager.

03Board appointments and openness3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn February 2026 a motion to interview each applicant for city boards died on a 2-2 vote with one abstention.

What's on the tableThe next council decides how it fills seats on city boards and commissions, and how it shares its meetings with the public.

04Zoning rules2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2025 a zoning amendment to allow and regulate chickens in three residential districts failed 2-2.

What's on the tableThe next council decides on future changes to the city's zoning ordinance, including rules on animals and buildings.

05Fire equipment and the budget4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council voted 4-1 to buy a pumper-tanker fire truck for up to $742,105.

What's on the tableThe next council sets future budgets, including how to pay for fire trucks and other city equipment.

3 notes on these statements

Five candidates are on the Ionia County list for three Belding City Council seats: Bruce A. Meyers, Tristin Miller, Jorel Davis, Linda Curtis and Shelley Gladding. Ionia County Clerk · Aug 24, 2026

Shelley Gladding appears in 2026 council minutes as Shelley Gladding-Visser. Belding City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026

The council accepted the resignation of Mayor Jeannine Leary from City Council in April 2026. Belding City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026

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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. 1. Should the council interview every applicant before appointing people to city boards?

  2. 2. Should Belding allow residents to keep chickens in residential neighborhoods?

  3. 3. Should the city buy a new fire truck now even if it makes the budget tight?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted12 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Bonita Steele, Nikolai Zerkle3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

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