 Candidate Announces Candidacy for Benton Harbor City Commissioner-At-Large

Supports economic opportunity and job growth through small business support and workforce development.

- Supports economic opportunity and job growth through small business support and workforce development.

Economy

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Supports investing in long-term, sustainable development for all neighborhoods.

- Supports investing in long-term, sustainable development for all neighborhoods.

Housing & Urban Development

Believes in enhancing public safety and community trust by collaborating with law enforcement.

Believes in improving public safety and community trust by collaborating with law enforcement.

- Believes in improving public safety and community trust by collaborating with law enforcement.

Public Safety

Plans to prioritize mental health resources and wellness support.

- Plans to prioritize mental health resources and wellness support.

Healthcare

Supports equal access to city resources and services.

Supports youth empowerment through educational partnerships, safe spaces, and mentorship.

- Supports equal access to city resources and services.
- Supports youth empowerment through educational partnerships, safe spaces, and mentorship.

Public Services

As of June 5, 2025, Deidre Maria Fields did not have a website or any information online.

Energy & the Environment

Wants to improve infrastructure and maintain clean neighborhoods through consistent city services and resident engagement.

- Wants to improve infrastructure and maintain clean neighborhoods through consistent city services and resident engagement.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Deidre Maria Fields

Buket Urgen

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Duane is currently serving as a city commissioner in Benton Harbor. He was elected as a city commissioner and later appointed as Mayor Pro Tem. 

As of June 5, 2025, Duane Seats did not have a website or any information online.

Supports reducing the cost of inspections and permitting for new housing developments.

- Supports reducing the cost of inspections and permitting for new housing developments.

Supports the updated parks policy, which includes fees for reserving specific areas like pavilions.

- Supports the updated parks policy, which includes fees for reserving specific areas like pavilions.

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Duane Seats

Duane Seats is a City Commissioner for the City of Benton Harbor, where he serves as Mayor Pro Tem. In this role, he works with the City Manager to set clear policies for public spaces, such as confirming that park pavilion fees only apply when someone reserves a specific area. He also leads the city’s program to distribute free carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to residents and presents official proclamations recognizing community contributions.

Duane Seats is currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem and a city commissioner in Benton Harbor. He was elected as a city commissioner and later appointed as Mayor Pro Tem. He is the incumbent candidate for the Commissioner-at-Large seat.

As of June 13, 2025, Duane Seats did not have a website or any information online.

Jerry Ewards was born and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

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Jerry Edwards served as commissioner for Benton Harbor's Ward 2 from 2015 to 2019. He co-chairs the City Commission’s Parks and Recreation Committee.

As of June 5, 2025, Jerry Edwards did not have a website or any information online.

Supports improving public parks and recreation areas.

- Supports improving public parks and recreation areas.

Jerry Edwards

As of June 13, 2025, Jerry Edwards did not have a website or any information online.

- Has helped revitalize parks in Benton Harbor.

Jerry Edwards is a Benton Harbor City Commissioner. He previously served on the commission from 2015 to 2019 and is looking to return for another term. He co-chairs the City Commission’s Parks and Recreation Committee, where he secured a DNR grant to renovate Hall Park after first working to improve it on a modest level in 2014.

As of June 13, 2025, Jerry Edwards’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Mary Alice Adams worked as a cosmetologist.

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Mary previously served as a Benton Harbor Commissioner for more than 12 years.

Supports the economic development of medical marijuana dispensaries in Benton Harbor.

Says medical marijuana dispensaries could bring jobs and people to city.

- Says medical marijuana dispensaries could bring jobs and people to city.

As of June 5, 2025, Mary Alice Adams did not have a website or any information online.

Mary Alice Adams

Mary Alice Adams is a Benton Harbor City Commissioner. She serves on the city commission, where she participates in local government decision-making and advocates for community issues. There is no information available about her previous professional roles.

Mary Alice Adams is currently a Benton Harbor city commissioner representing the city. She has served on the commission for ten years.

As of June 13, 2025, Mary Alice Adams did not have a website or any information online.

Supports Rev. Pinkney, a social justice activist in Benton Harbor, Michigan, who was sentenced to serve up to 10 years in prison.

Supports the replacement of lead service pipes in Benton named to the "Twijuana Marie Floyd Memorial Bridge."

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Shaquille ran for the at-large seat on Benton Harbor's City Commission in 2023 but did not win.

Supports affordable housing, economic development, enhanced infrastructure and transportation, improving City services, lower water rates, neighborhood beautification and empowerment, and partnership agreements with Benton Harbor Area Schools and nonprofit organizations.

Supports affordable housing, economic development, improving City services, lower water rates, neighborhood beautification and empowerment, and partnership agreements with Benton Harbor Area Schools and nonprofit organizations.

- Supports affordable housing, economic development, improving City services, lower water rates, neighborhood beautification and empowerment, and partnership agreements with Benton Harbor Area Schools and nonprofit organizations.

As of June 5, 2025, Shaquille Turner did not have a website or any information online.

Plans to address senior concerns and empower youth.

Hopes to address senior concerns and empower youth.

- Hopes to address senior concerns and empower youth.

Supports enhancing infrastructure and transportation.

Supports improving infrastructure and public transportation.

- Supports improving infrastructure and public transportation.

Shaquille Turner

As of June 13, 2025, Shaquille Turner did not have a website or any information online.

- Supports improving infrastructure and transportation.

Shaquille Turner works at Schneider National, where he has held roles as an over-the-road truck driver, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) instructor and currently serves as a division manager.

Shaquille Turner’s campaign for Commissioner-at-Large is his first entry into politics. He first ran for the at-large seat in the 2023 primary, capturing 18% of the vote and advancing to the November general election.

As of June 13, 2025, Shaquille Turner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- City commissioners in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Commissioners attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City commissioners may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.