Voters in Grand Traverse County cast ballots Nov. 4 in municipal contests that will influence local governance and public services for years to come. Traverse City held a general election for mayor and three city commission seats while also presenting three charter proposals related to the Brown Bridge Trust Fund and an ethics ordinance. Fife Lake Township residents considered multiple millages tied to fire, ambulance, police and general operations, including a Headlee restoration measure.

Polls across the county were open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Early in-person voting for Traverse City occurred Oct. 25–Nov. 2 at the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Ave., with hours 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Voters were advised to confirm their exact ballot and polling location using the Michigan Voter Information Center, and election officials noted that Traverse City precinct 4 votes in Leelanau County, prompting that precinct’s voters to verify their assigned polling place.

The mayoral contest featured Amy Shamroe and Tim Werner. Voters also selected three members of the city commission from a field including Lance Boehmer, Kenneth M. Funk, Mary Mills, Laura Ness and Peter Schous. The commission sets policy affecting housing, infrastructure, budgeting, and downtown development; the outcome will determine how the city prioritizes those issues in the coming term.

Traverse City’s three charter proposals addressed limited access to and potential loaning of Brown Bridge Trust Fund principal and the establishment of a city ethics ordinance. Decisions on those measures could change how trust assets are used for local projects and increase formal ethics oversight for city officials, with implications for fiscal management and public confidence.

In Fife Lake Township, voters weighed a package of public-safety and operations millages: a fire equipment millage renewal, an ambulance millage replacement, a general operating funds millage renewal, a fire protection millage replacement, a police services millage renewal, and a Headlee restoration for the township operating millage. The ambulance service measure identifies Kalkaska Memorial Health Center as the provider for transport services. Passage or failure of these measures will directly affect service levels, response capacity, and tax rates beginning in 2026.

Local election administration provided specific polling locations for Traverse City precincts, including the city fire station at 500 W. Front St., the Carnegie Building at 322 Sixth St., the Traverse Area District Library at 610 Woodmere, the Governmental Center at 400 Boardman Ave., and the NMC Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center at 1705 E. Front St. Fife Lake Township voting took place at Township Hall, 134 Morgan St., Fife Lake. Election officials urged voters to check their precinct assignments, as a small number of city precincts cross county lines.

County officials recommended that voters and observers follow county reporting on election night and verify any late write-ins or precinct-specific ballot details via the Michigan Voter Information Center. The results will shape municipal budgets, public-safety capacity and local oversight mechanisms, affecting everyday services and taxes for residents across Grand Traverse County beginning next year.