Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Grand Rapids City Commission Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

3 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Commission 1st Ward · 1 seat

Lindsey Perez-PlescherLicensed professional counselor and founder and director of the Center for Immigration Studies and Education. She provides outpatient therapy at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.4sourced
Steve TibbeSmall business owner and director of operations for Fans of Valley Field. He serves on local boards focused on economic development and neighborhood investment.4sourced

City Commission 2nd Ward · 1 seat

City Commission 3rd Ward · Unopposed

Kelsey PerdueIncumbentPublic health leader who has represented the Third Ward on the City Commission since January 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Howard University and is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Yale.11sourced

One City Commission seat is on the ballot in each of the three wards; voters pick one candidate in their own ward. The mayor is not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Kelsey Perdue is the only candidate on the ballot for the 3rd Ward seat. Kent County · Sep 30, 2026

The 1st Ward seat on the ballot has been vacant since former Commissioner Drew Robbins stepped down in 2026 to run for higher office; the commission deadlocked on an interim appointment and left it vacant. MLive · Oct 2, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

AliciaMarie BelchakCity Commissioner, 1st Ward; term ends December 31, 20286sourced Marshall KilgoreCity Commissioner, 3rd Ward; term ends December 31, 20287sourced David LaGrandMayor; term ends December 31, 20285sourced Milinda YsasiCity Commissioner, 2nd Ward; term ends December 31, 20287sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz2 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget and property taxes, Housing and the zoning code rewrite, Flock license-plate cameras Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register by mail or online (in-person registration continues through Election Day)

Mon, Oct 19, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and property taxes

Where it standsThe commission adopted a $786 million FY2027 budget in May 2026 and lowered the property tax rate slightly to 8.7511 mills.

What's on the tableThe commission adopts the FY2028 budget and sets the city property tax rate in spring 2027.

The FY2027 budget totals $786 million, a 6.4% increase over FY2026. City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 2026
The property tax millage was reduced to 8.7511, a decrease of 0.1076 mills (1.2%). City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 2026
The commission passed the FY2027 budget ordinance 6-0 on May 19, 2026. City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 2026
Personnel costs rose about 5.02%, and the plan cites the end of pandemic-era federal support. City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 2026

Housing and the zoning code rewrite

Where it standsThe city is updating its Zoning Ordinance to match its new Community Master Plan, after 2024 changes that allowed more small multi-unit housing.

What's on the tableThe commission will vote on the rewritten zoning code, including how much new housing is allowed in existing neighborhoods.

A 2023 housing needs update found the city needs 14,106 of about 34,700 new homes needed countywide by 2027. City of Grand Rapids
The city says it is updating its Zoning Ordinance to align with its completed Community Master Plan. City of Grand Rapids
About $10 million will go to the city's Affordable Housing Fund from the sale of 201 Market. City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 2026

Flock license-plate cameras

Where it standsPolice use 31 automated license-plate readers from Flock Safety; in 2026 the city manager put them under the city's surveillance policy after resident objections.

What's on the tableAny renewal or expansion of the license-plate reader system now needs City Commission approval; the Flock contract expires in 2027.

Future purchase, renewal or expansion of the license-plate reader system requires Public Safety Committee review and City Commission approval. City of Grand Rapids · Aug 28, 2026
The commission approved the Flock contract in January 2024 for up to $165,700; it is set to expire in 2027. Government Technology (MLive/TNS) · Aug 27, 2026
About 50 people spoke against Flock at the Aug. 25, 2026 commission meeting. Government Technology (MLive/TNS) · Aug 27, 2026
Police said the system blocks immigration-related and reproductive health-related searches and keeps most data for 30 days. City of Grand Rapids · Aug 28, 2026

Data centers

Where it standsNo data center is proposed in Grand Rapids, but the city is evaluating how its zoning code should treat them.

What's on the tableThe commission will decide whether the zoning rewrite allows, limits or bars large data centers in the city.

A data center is not currently proposed in Grand Rapids proper. WGVU · Dec 18, 2025
The planning director said evaluating data center policy is part of the city's zoning work. WGVU · Dec 18, 2025
Commissioner Marshall Kilgore sent the commission a communication on proactive zoning for data centers in December 2025. City of Grand Rapids · Dec 16, 2025

Police and public safety

Where it standsThe city manager named Joe Trigg police chief in June 2026, and the FY2027 budget funds the police department at $75.4 million.

What's on the tableThe commission sets police and violence-prevention funding in each budget and approves surveillance tools.

City Manager Mark Washington selected Joseph A. Trigg, a 25-year GRPD veteran, as police chief effective June 22, 2026. City of Grand Rapids · Jun 22, 2026
The FY2027 police budget is $75.4 million, including $1.3 million for 10 officers added in FY2026. City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 2026
The Office of Oversight and Public Accountability is budgeted at $2.9 million, including $1.7 million for the Axon body camera contract. City of Grand Rapids · May 19, 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 Grand Rapids treat proposals for large data centers?
2. Where should new public safety money go first?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Last day to register by mail or online (in-person registration continues through Election Day)City of Grand Rapids ClerkOct 19, 2026
Early in-person voting begins (runs through Nov. 1)City of Grand Rapids ClerkOct 20, 2026
Deadline for the clerk to receive a request for a mailed absentee ballot (5 p.m.)City of Grand Rapids ClerkOct 30, 2026
Early voting endsCity of Grand Rapids ClerkNov 1, 2026
Election DayKent County · Sep 30, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): AliciaMarie Belchak, Marshall Kilgore, David LaGrand, Milinda Ysasi3 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The City Commission is the Mayor and six commissioners; each of the three wards elects two commissioners to four-year overlapping terms, one from each ward every two years. City of Grand Rapids
The Mayor is elected citywide and presides at City Commission meetings. City of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids uses a commission-manager government: the City Commission hires the City Manager to run city operations. City of Grand Rapids
City Commission seats are nonpartisan and limited to two terms. MLive · Oct 2, 2026

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