Walker, MIVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Walker Mayor & City Commission Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · Unopposed

City Commission Ward 1 · 1 seat

City Commission Ward 2 · Unopposed

City Commission Ward 3 · Unopposed

Four contests are on the Nov. 3 ballot: Mayor, a Ward 1 partial term ending in 2028, Ward 2 and Ward 3. The full-term Ward 1 seat was decided in the August primary. Mayor, Ward 2 and Ward 3 each have one candidate.

4 notes on these statements

Five candidates are on the Kent County official candidate list for four Walker contests: Elaina A. Huizenga-Chase (Mayor, unopposed), Bruce de Wit and Thomas Knapp (Ward 1 partial term ending 12/01/2028), John McCrackin (Ward 2) and Terry Schweitzer (Ward 3). Kent County Clerk

Gloria Lara was declared elected to the full-term Ward 1 seat after the Aug. 4 primary and begins her term on Dec. 1, 2026. City of Walker

The Ward 1 partial-term seat is held by Mike Burde, who was appointed earlier in 2026 to fill the vacancy until the election. MLive · Jul 1, 2026

A 1.75-mill public safety millage for police and fire is also on the Walker ballot. Kent County Clerk

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jessica BabcockWard 2 commissioner and vice president of human resources at Suburban Inns, a hospitality management company.2sourcedGloria LaraWard 1 Commissioner-elect; term begins December 1, 20262sourced

Start here

Match quiz2 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesPublic safety millage, Housing and residential growth, Data center developmentKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Early voting begins (through Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily)

Sat, Oct 24, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Public safety millage

Where it standsThe City Commission put a new 10-year, 1.75-mill police and fire millage on the Nov. 3 ballot as a city charter amendment.

What's on the tableVoters decide the millage; the commission that takes office in December will oversee how any funds are used.

Housing and residential growth

Where it standsThe Planning Commission forwarded a draft housing policy book to the City Commission and recommended rezoning for a planned residential development in September 2026.

What's on the tableThe City Commission decides whether to adopt the Master Plan Book 5 draft and whether to approve the Eden Field rezoning.

Data center development

Where it standsThe League of Women Voters guide asked Walker candidates for their position on data center development in the city.

What's on the tableCity commissioners set the city's zoning and planning policy, which would govern any data center proposal.

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. What should Walker do about housing costs and residential growth?

  2. 2. Should Walker allow data center development?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Jessica Babcock, Gloria Lara4 on this ballot

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

  • The City of Walker has a council-manager form of government. Six commissioners represent the three wards, two from each ward. VOTE411 (League of Women Voters)
  • Commissioners are elected to four-year terms in November of even years. The mayor, who represents the city at large, also serves a four-year term. VOTE411 (League of Women Voters)
  • The Walker City Commission has seven members, including the mayor. City of Walker
  • Commissioners Steven Gilbert, Melanie Grooters and Roxanne Deschaine have reached their term limit as commissioners. Mayor Gary Carey Jr. has reached the term limit for both mayor and commissioner. City of Walker

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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