New, Youngest City Commissioner Hails From East Side of Muskegon

Andrew Trzaska | July 24, 2012

Muskegon’s city commission appointed its newest and youngest member at Tuesday’s full commission meeting.

Lea Markowski, of 1223 Ducey, lives in Muskegon’s Marquette Neighborhood, the most northeast neighborhood within city limits.  She works for Catholic Charities of West Michigan as an administrative assistant. She has also built a profile in the community for her support of renewable energy as well as her support of recycling and the Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition.

In comments following Tuesday’s meeting, Markowski underscored her commitment to sustainable development, saying, “Development needs to be focused on best use and the long term goals of the city.”

Markowski’s appointment fills the at-large seat vacated by Steve Gawron when he was appointed mayor by the commission earlier this month. Markowski will serve out the rest of Gawron’s commission term, which runs through 2014. Markowski received a unanimous vote from the commission on her appointment.

The field of candidates for the open seat included former commissioners Bill Larson and Chris Carter as well as the pastor of Bluffton Church Hugh Kallen and Dylan Hock, a member of Occupy Muskegon.  Interviews took place at Monday’s work session, with the final vote at Tuesday’s meeting.

With Gawron filling the role of mayor, his former role of vice mayor remains vacant. The city commission will vote a new vice mayor out of their ranks likely at the next full commission meeting on August 8.