MasonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Mason City Council Election 2026

5 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 11 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 · 12 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.

Voters choose up to four of eight council candidates citywide; the fourth-highest vote-getter wins a partial term ending in 2028. A separate recall election decides who holds Elaine Ferris's seat.

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.

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

What the next council decides

01Proposed data center and annexation4 sourced facts

Where it standsLandowners near Mason have asked the State Boundary Commission to annex about 400 acres from Vevay Township into the city for a possible hyperscale data center; no development application has been filed with the city.

What's on the tableIf the land is annexed, the next council would handle zoning, utility and development agreements for any data center proposal.

  • The city says there is currently no approved data center project, development application, or formal proposal before it. City of Mason
  • Vevay Township voted not to negotiate a Public Act 425 agreement with the city. City of Mason
  • The State Boundary Commission is reviewing a request to annex about 400 acres at College and West Columbia roads into Mason. WKAR · Oct 4, 2026
  • WKAR reported the city collects $4.3 million a year in property taxes and the data center project alone would bring in $7.6 million. WKAR · Jul 10, 2026
02Data center zoning rules4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted and then repealed an M-3 data center zoning district in 2026; a rewrite of the whole zoning ordinance with data center standards is pending.

What's on the tableThe new council will decide what zoning standards apply to data centers, after the current council deferred the rewrite's rollout plan to January.

03Noise limits2 sourced facts

Where it standsA citizen-initiated noise and vibration ordinance (Ordinance 272) is in effect, and the city is reviewing an amendment with a noise expert.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to keep, amend or replace the noise standards.

04Data center tax revenue3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted guiding principles for spending any new revenue from the proposed data center, listing millage rate reductions first.

What's on the tableIf a data center is built, the council would decide how to budget the new revenue.

05Water and sewer rates2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city raised water and sewer commodity charges 5% in 2025 to pay for capital improvements to both systems.

What's on the tableThe council sets utility rates each year with the budget.

1 note on these statements

John Vercher was appointed in January 2026 to the vacancy left when Leon R. Clark resigned; his term ends November 4, 2026. WKAR · Aug 5, 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 Mason have adopted Ordinance 266, the M-3 zoning district for data centers, in February 2026?

  2. 2. Should the council have paused Ordinance 266 with a 180-day moratorium?

  3. 3. After the referendum petition, should the council have repealed Ordinance 266?

  4. 4. How strict should noise limits for a data center be?

  5. 5. Should the council set priorities now for spending possible data center tax revenue?

  6. 6. Should Mason raise water and sewer rates 5% a year to pay for system improvements?

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 voted8 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): Tom Husby, Russell W. Whipple5 on this ballot

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

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