David LaGrand elected Grand Rapids mayor as Kent County voter turnout hits decade low

Polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, concluding Michigan’s Nov. 5 general election with David LaGrand elected as the next mayor of Grand Rapids. The election also brought new members to the City Commission representing both the First and Third Wards. 

As of Wednesday morning, all Kent County precincts had reported results. 

Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumous-Lyons reported Wednesday this election saw the lowest voter turnout since the 2012 presidential election, with 360,861 ballots cast in Kent County, representing 69% of registered voters. In Grand Rapids, turnout reached 61.5%, according to the City’s website as of 7:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Here are the results of the Grand Rapids-related races:

Mayoral

David LaGrand, a former state representative and local business owner, won the Grand Rapids mayoral election. LaGrand will replace current Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, whose term expires on Dec. 31. 

David LaGrand — 62.54% (50,490)

Senita Lenear — 36.17% (29,201)

First Ward

AliciaMarie Belchak, a volunteer and member of the West Grand Neighborhood Organization board, has been elected as First Ward commissioner. Belchak will replace current First Ward Commissioner Jon O’Connor. O’Connor, elected in 2015 and again in 2019, could not seek reelection in 2024 due to term limits. Belchak will represent the First Ward on the City Commission alongside Commissioner Drew Robbins.

“I ran for City Commission as a regular working mom because I believe the hardworking people of the First Ward and the city as a whole deserve to have a voice and real proactive leadership that takes into account their lived experiences,” Belchak told The Rapidian. “I’m ready to work with anyone who wants to make our city thrive and have a government that works for the regular working class and middle class of this city.” 

"I believe I was elected on a clear mandate from the people who want to have a safe, healthy and clean GR,” Belchak added. "I am going to be somebody who represents everybody no matter who you voted for."

AliciaMarie Belchak — 54.95% (12,548)

Dean Pacific — 43.12% (9,846)

Second Ward

Incumbent Milinda Ysasi will retain her seat as Second Ward commissioner, running unopposed. Ysasi will continue representing the Second Ward on the City Commission alongside Commissioner Lisa Knight. 

Milinda Ysasi — 97.32% (22,038)

Third Ward

Marshall Kilgore, director of engagement at the West Michigan Environmental Council, has been elected as Third Ward commissioner. Incumbent Bing Goei was appointed to the Third Ward seat in March of this year after former Commissioner Nathaniel Moody resigned in December 2023. Kilgore will represent the Third Ward on the City Commission alongside Commissioner Kelsey Perdue.

In a press release sent out Wednesday, Kilgore said he is "committed to restoring a sense of normalcy in local politics and will strive to be a Commissioner that the community can reach out to for assistance or simply a listening ear.”

“Our campaign simply spoke to issues long rooted in the Third Ward that haven’t been spoken to,” Kilgore told The Rapidian. “What I believe resonated with voters was talking to voters and tackling these issues head on.”

Marshall Kilgore — 57.77% (14,479)

Bing Goei — 40.04% (10,034)

Grand Rapids Public Library Board of Library Commissioners

Rachel Anderson and Justine Bryant have been elected to serve six-year terms on the Grand Rapids Public Library Board of Library Commissioners. Bryant will replace current member Sheila García Mazari, whose term is expiring. Kevin Peterson has also been elected to serve a partial term on the Grand Rapids Public Library Board of Library Commissioners. His term will end on Dec. 31, 2026. Anderson and Peterson both currently sit on the Board.

Rachel S. Anderson — 51.92% (51,263)

Justine Bryant — 46.14% (45,555)

Kevin Peterson — 96.87% (57,152)

Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education

Eleanor Moreno, Amber Z. Kilpatrick, Arick Davis and Richard Williamson have been elected to the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education. Moreno, Kilpatrick, Davis and Williamson will replace current members Jen Schottke, Katherine Downes Lewis, Raynard Ross and incumbent Jordoun Eatman. 

Eleanor Moreno — 15.75% (35,143)

Amber Z. Kilpatrick — 14.14% (31,543)

Arick Davis — 12.47% (27,822)

Richard Williamson — 12.08% (26,959)

Ismalis Nuñez — 12% (26,760)

Tonya Williams — 11.43% (25,508)

Jordoun Eatman* — 11.11% (24,783)

Norma M. Lopez — 9.98% (22,255)

Kent County Board of Commissioners

The Kent County Board of Commissioners will see a mix of new and returning members beginning in 2025. Here are the elected commissioners whose areas of representation include Grand Rapids, either in part or whole.

Stan Stek (R-District 6) — 55.89% (10,486)

• Stek is the incumbent.

Carol Hennessy (D-District 14) — 65% (9,451)

• Hennessy is the incumbent. 

Lisa Oliver-King (D-District 15) — 63.96% (8,592)

• Oliver-King is the incumbent.

Melissa LaGrand (D-District 16) — 75.29% (11,252)

• LaGrand is the incumbent.

Robert Womack (D-District 17) — 82.79% (10,724)

• Womack has been elected to the seat currently occupied by Commissioner Tony Baker.

Steve Faber (D-District 18) — 61.39% (10,747)

• Faber has been elected to the seat currently occupied by Commissioner Stephen Wooden.

Kris Pachla (D-District 19) — 71.57% (13,281)

• Pachla is the incumbent.

Nancy Morales (D-District 20) — 65.89% (5,444)

• Morales has been elected to the seat currently occupied by Commissioner Ivan Diaz.

*Updated, 11/7/2024, 9:32 a.m.; spelling correction.