Meet Muskegon's new mayor: A 'man of the people' with plenty of ...

Mayor Ken Johnson - City of Muskegon

Ken Johnson is the current mayor of the City of Muskegon. He was elected in 2021 and is serving his first term. Previously, he served two four-year terms as a city commissioner for Muskegon.

Ken has bachelor's degrees in international studies and political science from George Washington University. He was born and raised in Muskegon's Sheldon Park neighborhood. He most recently returned to Muskegon in 2009.

Ken is a financial advisor. He previously worked as a senior analyst for a global media analysis firm.

Supports equitable contract awarding and individual entrepreneurship.

Wants the city to award contracts fairly and support entrepreneurs.

Supports paid student internships with city projects to explore careers in the trades while developing a “sense of ownership” in the city.

Supports paid student internships with the city.

- Wants the city to award contracts fairly and support entrepreneurs.
- Supports paid student internships with the city.

Economy

Wants to expand the array of quality and affordable housing options available.

Wants to expand the number and quality of affordable housing options.

- Wants to expand the number and quality of affordable housing options.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports the creation of a fire authority to oversee fire services in Muskegon and surrounding communities.

Supports the creation of a fire authority to oversee fire services in Muskegon and surrounding communities, hoping to redirect administrative spending to more staffing and equipment.

Plans to address gun violence by encouraging citizens to report shots fired and considering "shot spotter" technology to help direct prevention efforts.

Plans to address gun violence by encouraging citizens to report shots fired and considering "shot spotter" technology.

- Supports the creation of a fire authority to oversee fire services in Muskegon and surrounding communities, hoping to redirect administrative spending to more staffing and equipment.
- Plans to address gun violence by encouraging citizens to report shots fired and considering "shot spotter" technology.

Public Safety

As of May 30, 2025, Ken Johnson did not have a website or any information online.

Healthcare

Supports spending beach parking revenues in the city’s parks, where he’d like to implement wireless internet service, develop more programming, have dedicated park attendants and construct pavilions. He’d also like to reinstate a city parks and recreation board.

 Wants to bring back the city parks and recreation board.

Proposes using money from beach parking in the city’s parks to implement wireless internet service, develop more programming, have park attendants, and build pavilions.

-  Wants to bring back the city parks and recreation board.
- Proposes using money from beach parking in the city’s parks to implement wireless internet service, develop more programming, have park attendants, and build pavilions.

Public Services

Supports environmental sustainability initiatives, such as curbside recycling and LED streetlights.

As mayor, supported environmental sustainability initiatives, such as curbside recycling and LED streetlights.

Plans to promote environmental sustainability by expanding recycling efforts, adding more electric vehicle charging stations, and exploring solar and wind energy installations.

Supports exploring solar and wind energy installations.

- As mayor, supported environmental sustainability initiatives, such as curbside recycling and LED streetlights.
- Supports exploring solar and wind energy installations.

Energy & the Environment

Supports adding more electric vehicle charging stations.

- Supports adding more electric vehicle charging stations.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Ken Johnson

As of June 2, 2025, Ken Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Buket Urgen

Education

Bob has a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of Washington. Bob has previously volunteered and fundraised for SAVE Inc., which provides housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. He is married to his wife, Heather. They have two kids together, Ben and Cate, and have lived in Muskegon for 17 years.

Bob is a financial planner and business owner. He previously served in the US Navy for six years and worked for the budget, IT, and human resources departments of Johnson County, Kansas.

Plans to grow Muskegon’s economy by attracting talent, supporting local businesses, and facilitating new investments.

- Plans to grow Muskegon’s economy by attracting talent, supporting local businesses, and facilitating new investments.

Tax Incentives - City of Muskegon

Plans to continue the city’s Infill Housing program and ensure it meets the needs of home buyers.

Plans to work with city staff and community partners to address the shortage of quality, affordable housing.

Advocates for diverse housing solutions that serve seniors, working families, veterans, and those facing housing insecurity.

Supports maximizing Brownfield tax incentives for smart redevelopment projects like Muskegon Central Park.

Supports maximizing Brownfield tax incentives for redevelopment projects like Muskegon Central Park. Brownfield tax credits encourage redevelopment in areas where contamination or decay make development harder.

- Plans to continue the city’s Infill Housing program and ensure it meets the needs of home buyers.
- Plans to work with city staff and community partners to address the shortage of quality, affordable housing.
- Advocates for diverse housing solutions that serve seniors, working families, veterans, and those facing housing insecurity.
- Supports maximizing Brownfield tax incentives for redevelopment projects like Muskegon Central Park. Brownfield tax credits encourage redevelopment in areas where contamination or decay make development harder.

As of May 30, 2025, Bob Garretson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports improving public access to waterfronts, enhancing parks, and growing the arts scene.

Supports improving public access to waterfronts, bettering parks, and growing the arts scene.

- Supports improving public access to waterfronts, bettering parks, and growing the arts scene.

Supports partnerships that protect the lake's future and plans to connect downtown to the waterfront, ensure public access, and encourage new housing and recreation along Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.

- Supports partnerships that protect the lake's future and plans to connect downtown to the waterfront, ensure public access, and encourage new housing and recreation along Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.

Plans to work with the State of Michigan to improve Seaway Drive, the "front door" to downtown, to better welcome visitors and reflect the city's "pride, promise, and progress."

- Plans to work with the State of Michigan to improve Seaway Drive, the "front door" to downtown, to better welcome visitors and reflect the city's "pride, promise, and progress."

Bob Garretson

As of June 2, 2025, Bob Garretson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Supports maximizing Brownfield tax credits for redevelopment projects like Muskegon Central Park. Brownfield tax credits support development in places where contamination or decay create difficulties for redevelopment. 
- Plans to work with city staff and community partners to address the shortage of quality, affordable housing.
- Advocates for diverse housing solutions that serve seniors, working families, veterans, and those facing housing insecurity.

- Wants to protect the lakes by supporting partnerships, to connect downtown to the waterfront, and to encourage new housing and recreation along Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.

- Supports improving Muskegon's entryway, Seaway Drive, to reflect the city's pride and progress.

- Plans to work with city staff and community partners to address the shortage of quality, affordable housing.
- Advocates for diverse housing solutions that serve seniors, working families, veterans, and those facing housing insecurity.

- Hopes to protect the lakes by supporting partnerships, connect downtown to the waterfront, and encourage new housing and recreation along Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.

Supports local businesses, wants to attract new investments, and aims to create good-paying jobs through workforce development.

As of May 30, 2025, John Richard Allen did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes the 2022 "cooperative use" agreement between the city and Leestma, which gave Leestma access to a city-owned peninsula that was part of the next-door Hartshorn Marina.

Opposes the 2022 agreement between the city and developer Ryan Leestma, which gave Leestma access to a city-owned peninsula that was part of the next-door Hartshorn Marina.

- Opposes the 2022 agreement between the city and developer Ryan Leestma, which gave Leestma access to a city-owned peninsula that was part of the next-door Hartshorn Marina.

Opposes the development at Hartshorn because it "monopolizes a public park for private profit."

Opposes the development at Hartshorn Marina because it "monopolizes a public park for private profit" and allows hazardous forklifts to cross the Lakeshore Trail bike path.

- Opposes the development at Hartshorn Marina because it "monopolizes a public park for private profit" and allows hazardous forklifts to cross the Lakeshore Trail bike path.

John Richard Allen

As of June 2, 2025, John Richard Allen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes the development at Hartshorn because it allows a "hazardous forklift operation" to cross the Lakeshore Trail bike path.

- A mayor’s job can be different in each city, but they usually make sure city laws are followed, help create and manage the city’s budget, appoint people to boards and committees, and oversee city services like police, fire departments, parks, and public transportation.
- The mayor works with the city council and sometimes helps make decisions by voting.
- They may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. 
- They are elected to a two- or four-year term, depending on the city.