Houghton City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Mike
Needham
Mike Needham, the incumbent, is running for Houghton City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 5 candidates are running for 4 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Chad Arney
- 02Robert X. MegowenIncumbent
- 03Mike NeedhamYou’re reading
- 04Rhiannon SchmidtIncumbent
- 05Matt Seigel
Background
- About
- Houghton city council member since 2010.
Chad Arney also applied for that vacancy and was nominated by Mike Needham; the council appointed Rhiannon Schmidt. The Mining Gazette · Apr 9, 2026
Five candidates are on the ballot for four at-large seats: Chad Arney, Robert X. Megowen, Mike Needham, Rhiannon Schmidt and Matt Seigel. Ballotpedia
On the record: Mike Needham
10 sourced01Public comment1 sourced position
Voted no on Resolution 2026-2013 to cut public comment time from five minutes to three (failed 1-6, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · May 27, 2026LinkHow the council voted
02Downtown property2 sourced positions
Voted yes to buy 509 Shelden Avenue for $50,000 from the General Fund for a pocket park (passed 7-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · May 27, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes to buy 326 Shelden Avenue for $400,000, to be reimbursed by a Michigan Talent Partnership grant, for a business incubator (passed 7-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · May 27, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Rezoning2 sourced positions
Voted yes on Ordinance 2026-345, the East Lakeshore Drive conditional rezoning (passed 7-0, June 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · Jun 10, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes to rezone 212 and 214 East Street (passed 6-0, April 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · Apr 8, 2026LinkHow the council voted
04City budget1 sourced position
Voted yes to approve the 2026-2027 city budget (passed 7-0, June 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · Jun 10, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Facade grants1 sourced position
Voted yes on approving the DDA/TIFA mini-facade grant applications (failed 3-3, September 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · Sep 9, 2026LinkHow the council voted
06Council vacancy1 sourced position
Voted no on offering Rhiannon Schmidt the open council seat (passed 5-1, April 2026).
Council voteCity of Houghton · Apr 8, 2026LinkHow the council voted
07Housing1 sourced position
as recorded in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said the changes made to 212 and 214 East Street were positive and added to available housing (as recorded in the council minutes; not a direct quote).
Own statementCity of Houghton · Apr 8, 2026Link
08Waterfront Trail1 sourced position
as recorded in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said during the East Lakeshore Drive rezoning vote that the city will protect the Waterfront Trail (as recorded in the council minutes; not a direct quote).
Own statementCity of Houghton · Jun 10, 2026Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
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