Steve Gawron Voted Muskegon’s New Mayor By City Commission

Andrew Trzaska | July 9, 2012

The Muskegon City Commission unanimously selected Steve Gawron, the city’s current vice mayor, as the city’s newest mayor at Monday’s city commission work session.

Gawron has served multiple years as vice mayor and multiple terms on the city commission as an at-large commissioner. Gawron assumed the duties of mayor on July 1 after outgoing mayor Steve Warmington’s resignation became effective after June 30.

In the event of a mayoral resignation, the city commission has one month to fill the position.  The individual selected serves out the rest of the outgoing mayor’s term; whomever is elected mayor on election day in November of 2013 will be sworn in at the start of 2014.

Many had seen Gawron as heir apparent for Warmington, who even made comments and physical gestures of support of Gawron at his final city commission meeting on June 26.  Gawron has not specifically said he will run for another term next year.

To fill Gawron’s at-large seat, the commission opted to hold off on filling the seat. Three people have indicated interest in the open seat, according to city clerk Ann Marie Cummings.  Only one submitted a formal letter as of Monday’s work session.

Commissioner Sue Wierengo questioned whether many members of the public were aware of the possibility of an open commission seat as of Monday.  To give residents time to consider applying for the seat, the commission voted to set a deadline of 4:00 p.m. on July 18 for commission applications.  A special meeting for interviewing candidates will then take place on Monday, July 23.  The position will be filled at the regularly scheduled commission meeting on Tuesday, July 24.

Likewise, election of a vice mayor will happen after the new appointment.

Applications for the open seat should submit a letter of interest to the city clerk’s office by the July 18 deadline.  Citizens must be 18 and a registered voter and have lived in the City of Muskegon for at least one year.