Nomination Packets for Mayor and City Commission

Nominating Packets

Nominating packets for those who wish to run for the Office of Mayor or Office of City Commissioner are available from the City Clerk’s Office, first floor, Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan. 

Offices Available

  • Mayor, two-year term ending November 10, 2025
  • 3 City Commissioners, four-year term ending November 8, 2027

Filing Deadline

Candidates must file nominating petitions and other required documentation with the City Clerk by July 25, 2023, at 4 p.m.

City Commission Functions

The City Commission is the legislative body of the City of Traverse City, essentially functioning as the city's "board of directors." The following is the mission statement for the City Commission:

The mission of the Traverse City City Commission is to guide the preservation and development of the City’s infrastructure, services, and planning based on extensive participation by its citizens coupled with the expertise of the city’s staff. The Commission will both lead and serve Traverse City in developing a vision for sustainability and the future that is rooted in the hopes and input of its citizens and organizations, as well as cooperation from surrounding units of government.

Very broadly speaking, the functions of the City Commission for the City of Traverse City are to:

  • Set public policy for the city through ordinances and other official actions
  • Allocate public funds under the city's control and responsibility, including adoption of the City Budget
  • Exercise policy oversight of the city's resources
  • Appoint the City Manager and City Attorney; and in order to maintain a system of checks and balances, to provide for appropriate separation of duties and autonomy in conducting and performing official and corporate functions, the City Commission approves the City Manager's indefinite appointment and removal of the City Clerk and the City Treasurer
  • Appoint individuals to various board and commissions.
  • Exercise other authority and powers granted to it by the Michigan Constitution, Michigan Law, Michigan Promulgated Rules, the City Charter and other authorities 

The City Commission consists of six members and the Mayor, all elected at-large (all members of the City Commission represent the entire city, as the city is not broken into "wards" or "districts"). All offices on the City Commission are non-partisan. The Mayor is elected for a two-year term and Commissioners are elected for four-year terms. City Commission terms are arranged so that no more than four terms (or "seats") expire every two years. City Commission elections are held in November of odd years. 

As provided by Michigan Law and the City Charter, for ceremonial purposes, the Mayor is the chief executive officer of the city. The Mayor presides over all meetings of the City Commission and has a voice and vote on all matters before the City Commission, but is without veto power. Along with the City Clerk, the Mayor executes various items by signature as the City Commission, City Charter, Michigan Law require.

Members of the City Commission are provided with compensation in the following amounts: Mayor: $10,839.77 annually in 2023, with the remaining members compensated $7,059.88 annually. The city splits the annual compensation into biweekly checks. (These rates may be adjusted upward in 2023.)

More Information

For further information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (231) 922-4480, or email tcclerk@traversecitymi.gov 

Candidates elected at the November 7, 2023, election, will be sworn in by City Clerk Benjamin Marentette and take office at 7 p.m. on November 13, 2023.