Meet the Mayors

The past, present, and future leaders of Traverse City

By Kierstin Gunsberg | Oct. 28, 2023

It’s that time again; the beaches have long been empty, heaters are back in action, and Election Day is soon approaching. This year, Traverse City residents will elect their 91st mayor (fun fact: from 1940-2000, it was the City Commission who chose TC’s mayors) after Mayor Richard Lewis announced in June that he won’t be running for a second term.

On the ballot to fill his spot are former County Commissioner Tom Mair and Mayor Pro Tem Amy Shamroe. Northern Express caught up with the candidates, plus Mayor Lewis and former Mayor Jim Carruthers, to learn about what the role means to them and what it takes to succeed.

Amy Shamroe, 2024 Mayoral Candidate

Amy Shamroe describes herself as “Traverse City born and raised.” For the last eight years, she’s served as a City Commissioner, (and as Mayor Pro Tem since 2017), working with the Traverse City community on projects like the redesign of Eighth Street and the completion of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, which opened last summer.

She says her cumulative experiences are why she’s ready to step into the role of mayor this fall. “We have seen a lot of changes to the composition of the commission over my terms,” says Shamroe. “But I have been proud to offer consistent leadership through them all.”

She notes that her civic accomplishments, which include several years as a Traverse City Light & Power board member, will be especially beneficial as TC gears up for big changes like the implementation of a fresh master plan and the recent appointment of Elizabeth Vogel, who will take over the City Manager position this January. “Traverse City has a lot of engaged citizens, and having spent years in public service already has allowed me to get to know so many people from many parts of the community and build relationships with them,” says Shamroe.

As for the issues she’s ready to tackle if she’s elected, Shamroe will continue to support the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program that incentivizes developers to build affordable housing in the area, which she acknowledges is lacking.

She’d also support the potential renewal of TIF 97 “if it includes revenue sharing with taxing jurisdictions.” The concept was put in place nearly three decades ago to concentrate funds into improving the downtown district and is set to expire in 2027. Opponents of TIF 97 want to see more money allocated to the general fund so it can be used outside of downtown proper. Still, Shamroe says that without TIF, projects like the recent bridge repairs would have had to come from the general fund anyway. “While I will advocate to those in Lansing for better cost-sharing solutions, this [TIF] is what we have today and what we have for the foreseeable future, and I just don’t see how we can lose it,” explains Shamroe.

No matter what the election brings, Shamroe sees Traverse City as a vibrant contrast to the one she remembers growing up in. “I am amazed at what so many have done to make it the place it is today,” she says, pointing out the growth of local businesses, nonprofits, and arts and culture scenes during the last few decades. “It is a delicate balance, but it creates something magical, and as we go forward we need to protect that magic.”

Tom Mair, 2024 Mayoral Candidate

Last fall, Tom Mair shared conversations with old and new friends during their annual neighborhood block party. Getting to know his neighbors both near and far from his street’s stop sign—and hearing out their requests for him to throw his hat in the ring this November—is what ultimately motivated this year’s run for mayor.

Mair says his compassion, empathy, and leadership skills make him an excellent candidate. Leading up to this campaign, his experience includes working in counter-terrorism, sitting on several local workforce and community committees, including Networks Northwest, and serving as a Grand Traverse County Commissioner representing TC’s west side.

At the top of his list if he wins the race this November is addressing the city’s increasing demand. “Traverse City is on the map not just for the people who are residents, but really to the entire state of Michigan,” says Mair. “It is a shared gem.”

That’s why a priority of his campaign is upgrading existing infrastructure—especially the city’s water and sewer systems—to match both seasonal and year-round populations. “I am concerned that we are so focused on growth that we have ignored that we are not prepared for further growth until we renovate the infrastructure,” he says.

While Mair supports funding infrastructure upgrades, he’d like to reign in spending by creating fewer contracts between the city and outside consultants, citing the $100,000 Healthier Drinking Culture study as something he, as a resident, “didn’t support spending time and tax dollars on.”

He also doesn’t support the possible renewal of TIF 97. If the city does decide to go forward with the renewal, Mair would advocate for “starting over with a brand new, up-to-date contract.” He also wants Traverse City to “think hard” about the TIF’s original purpose and whether it’s still relevant. As he explains it, “It was to give financial aid to downtown areas that had declining real estate values along with empty storefronts.”

As those real estate values—and rent—are hitting all-time highs, Mair wants to address the city’s housing gap by proposing partnerships with nonprofits to purchase land for housing that could be offered at or below $1,000 per month. For those who qualify for Michigan State Housing Development Authority housing vouchers, he notes that the out-of-pocket cost would be even less. While Mair says that “truly affordable” housing is an issue that extends far beyond the city limits, “that doesn’t excuse us from not trying harder.”

Richard Lewis, Mayor from 2022-2024

As his two-year term winds down, Mayor Richard Lewis is quick to emphasize that the progress made during his tenure can’t be solely credited to him. It has been, as he puts it, a collective effort by the City Commission and staff along with the county, plus support from community organizations like Traverse Connect, Norte, and Safe Harbor. Together, they’ve “moved the needle further on several fronts.”

Those fronts include approving the construction of a new Senior Center, which broke ground in September. The 18,000-square-foot facility will triple the old space, allowing for more programming and resources like Meals on Wheels.

Mayor Lewis lauds the approval of green policies—like the one passed this summer that requires electricity in all new city buildings and renovations to be powered by renewable resources—as a meaningful step towards carbon neutrality goals. He adds that another highlight was working alongside the city to adopt a PILOT ordinance to provide more affordable, attainable, and workforce housing options.

Still, like many in the city limits, Mayor Lewis acknowledges that addressing the challenges faced by the city’s unhoused population is an ongoing priority “where we have lots of work left.”

While he reflects on the steps made during his term, he hopes that as city voters elect a new mayor, they’ll also vote “yes” on Prop 1. The proposal would allow the use of Brown Bridge Trust Fund money to go towards the purchase—and protection—of over 500 acres adjacent to Brown Bridge Quiet Area.

As for his successor, Mayor Lewis encourages them to treat everyone, especially during commission meetings, with “respect, dignity, patience, and charity,” even in moments of disagreement. As a reminder, he emphasizes that each City Commissioner holds equal status, with the mayor serving as a facilitator of meetings rather than a singular authority.

Ultimately, he hopes the next mayor will find joy in their role, recognizing that the collective effort of the commission will shape the future of Traverse City. Of the role, he concludes, “At the end of the day, you know through the dialogue, discourse, joy, disappointments, you help to make your home a better place.”

Jim Carruthers, Mayor from 2016-2022

Before Richard Lewis took office in 2022, Jim Carruthers had held the office for three terms (six years) and had served on various city boards for over two decades.

Though he opted not to run in 2021, that doesn’t mean he’s lost touch with local politics. “I have people every day who are pushing me to run again, to get back involved,” Carruthers admits. While that’s not in the cards, he’s able to call upon a wealth of experience when it comes to giving advice for this November’s candidates.

“You have to engage,” he says. “You have to be willing to listen. You have to be able to go out of your comfort zone on many levels and deal with folks. You’re the spokesperson for Traverse City—you need to step up and be there and shake the hands and hug the babies and all that kind of stuff. But you also have to be there on the main stage, advocating for Traverse City…”

Carruthers notes that the job is a nonpartisan position and that the mayor has to hold to that, especially where polar-opposite politics come into play. “I had plenty of people come up to me during my tenure saying, ‘We don’t agree on the national level politics, but locally, we really appreciate what you’re doing.’”

Speaking of that tenure, Carruthers says he’s most proud of the work he did around climate change during his time in office.

“[We are] building a much better outlook for our climate crisis by making Traverse City a 100 percent renewable energy city, building more solar and wind,” he says. “We need to change our ways and habits of how we live and generate power to be more green and show communities that it can be done. We can actually be the innovators and leaders in the effort nationwide and worldwide.”

As for the biggest issues the next mayor will have to tackle? Carruthers points to managing the city’s sewer systems and stormwater runoff, building stronger relationships with the Grand Traverse County Commission, and affordable housing as his top concerns.

He also hopes whoever wins the election is committed to listening to city residents about issues big and small.

“The commissions that I was involved with, we really supported the public coming in and communicating with us,” Carruthers says. “I’m not saying this commission doesn’t, but I think a lot of people feel blocked out. … You have to be open minded to all the citizens.”