MUSKEGON, MI - Muskegon voters chose the four candidates Tuesday who will compete for two at-large seats on the city commission.
Five candidates were on the Aug. 5 primary election ballot vying for the two seats. The top four vote getters will now move on to the Nov. 4 general election.
Candidates Rebecca St. Clair, Teresa Emory, Kiley N. Jackson and John C. Allen received the highest number of votes. The city commissioner seat is a four-year term.
St. Clair overwhelmingly came in first place with 2,046 votes (36.1%), Emory placed second with 1,296 votes (22.9%), Jackson was third with 997 votes (17.6%), and Allen was fourth with 844 votes (14.9%).
Aaron Morris was the fifth candidate on the ballot, with the least number of 476 votes (8.4%).
More background information on all the candidates can be found in a full candidate profile.
Commissioner Rebecca St. Clair, 50, a Lakeside resident, works full-time as a clinical manager for youth services at HealthWest.
She has served as vice mayor of the city commission for the last two years.
She said she is seeking another term to be even more "effective."
In a second term, St. Clair said she would continue working with developers to increase housing. She said the city is about halfway towards reaching its goal of 3,000 units by 2028, and has prioritized bringing in all types of housing and various price points.
Teresa Emory previously served as a Ward 4 Muskegon City Commissioner from 2020 to 2024, after losing her reelection bid to current commissioner Katrina Kochin.
Emory, 69, is retired. She previously owned Liberty Tax Service of Muskegon for 14 years.
For nine years, Emory was also a residential treatment teacher with Child and Family Services and has worked with the juvenile court in several areas.
Emory has lived in the city for more than 50 years.
Kiley Jackson, 23, is a recovery court specialist for the Muskegon County 14th Circuit Court. She lives in the Nims neighborhood.
Jackson recently earned her bachelor's degree in political science, with a minor in human rights, from Grand Valley State University. She attended Muskegon Community College for the first two years.
As a commissioner, she would focus on voter engagement and civic engagement.
John C. Allen is hoping to bring his experience to the table as an elected official after working more than 30 years as a city government employee.
He started his career as a water operator at the city of Muskegon water plant.
He later worked for the city of Grand Rapids and did two stints at the city of Muskegon Heights, most recently as utilities director.
Allen said he was inspired to run for city commissioner because he's been paying attention to what's going on, like waterfront development, and sees ways it could improve.
As a commissioner, Allen said he brings the experience and understanding of the staff's experience and how the city operates.