WEEKLY POLICY SPOTLIGHT:

My Vision and Growth for Muskegon.

Vision and Growth

When I was young, a presidential candidate asked a simple question:

“Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”

For too many people in Muskegon, the answer is no.

Yes, our city has seen some growth — new developments, new energy downtown — but the numbers tell a different story for working families. Since 2022, the average real income for Muskegon residents has fallen by about 5%. With nearly 20% inflation over that time period, $100 a Muskegon resident earned four years ago now buys only about $75 worth of groceries.

That’s the reality for families who are choosing between health care and day care, between putting food on the table and paying the utility bill. It’s no wonder people tell me they feel stressed, stretched, and left behind.

My vision is to change that.

Muskegon should be the destination for businesses to grow and for our residents to find jobs that support their families.

But to grow, we must:

1. Keep what we have — by engaging directly with local employers, listening to their needs, and preventing the kind of job losses we’ve seen with Cole’s Bakery, Pace Automotive, and MillerKnoll. I have met with many — from the city’s largest employer to medium and small businesses — and none have heard from the current mayor. We need to listen.

2. Partner regionally — with neighboring cities, county leaders, and the Chamber of Commerce to attract new industries, investment, and jobs. We need to collaborate.

3. Make Muskegon business-friendly — by streamlining licensing, reducing red tape, and creating a culture that supports entrepreneurship, not stifles it.

4. Support our small businesses, especially women- and minority-owned businesses. Only 11% of businesses in Muskegon County are owned by women. We need to partner with nonprofits like the Community Foundation and the Business Equity Initiative to provide access to capital and real opportunity for everyone. We need to do.

My vision for Muskegon is simple:

A city that welcomes new businesses and new residents — but also lifts up the people who already live and work here.

A city where families can thrive, neighbors feel secure, and everyone can enjoy all of Muskegon.

Because our future doesn’t belong to a few; it belongs to all of us.

Opening Statement

Good afternoon. I am Bob Garretson, and I want your vote to be the next Mayor of Muskegon.

I want to thank Maggie Doyle and Muskegon Engaged for hosting tonight’s event, and I look forward to speaking to the topics and questions presented.

I also want to thank all of you for being here or tuning in online. Most of you are here for the same reason I am — because you love Muskegon.

This time last year, I wasn’t considering running for Mayor. This race found me. It found me through the people who came to me — neighbors, city employees, and business owners who asked me to run because they need a change. They want a Mayor for all of Muskegon, one who will prioritize Public Safety, Jobs, and Good Governance.

Today is an opportunity to talk about these issues and answer your questions.

Many of the issues we’ll discuss tonight I’ve written about in detail on my website, electbobgarretson.com, and on Facebook at Bob Garretson for Mayor of Muskegon. I invite you to visit those pages and get to know me better.

Today is also an opportunity to contrast Mr. Johnson’s and my approach to leadership.

I’ve been asked how Mr. Johnson and I are different. Here are some of the ways:
I have a Master’s Degree in Public Administration — in managing government. Over the past 30 years, I have held leadership and management positions in local and federal government, business, and nonprofit organizations. My leadership has been recognized with Navy Commendation Medals and national corporate awards. I am a collaborator, a listener, a doer. We are not the same.

It’s time for change. Mr. Johnson has set a tone over the last four years that is extremely partisan. The Mayor of Muskegon is a nonpartisan position. He has presided over a Muskegon government that has underinvested in our public safety, lowered our community’s standard of living, and used the General Fund to fund his priorities — not the priorities of our community. There is little or no collaboration with businesses or leaders from other local governments. There is micromanagement of city staff and city commission meetings that lack leadership and focus. There is lecturing instead of listening. It’s time for change.

I look forward to this discussion and to keeping it within the limits defined by the moderators. I value your time.

Today you will hear ideas, policies, and proposals from me — but that is only possible because I’ve been listening to you.

Civil Liberties and Federal Enforcement

I was there with my church and family during the protest following the death of George Floyd, and we watched both our Sheriff and Public Safety Director walk out to march alongside protesters in solidarity. That’s the spirit of Muskegon — leadership that listens and stands with its people.

I’ve looked at what Muskegon has already done. I fully support Public Safety Director Tim Kozal’s January statement outlining our department’s role in balancing community safety with protecting civil rights. I also support Commissioner Jay Kilgo’s resolution opposing racial profiling.

I trust our community to:
• Uphold the safety of every member of the community
• Protect the civil rights of all people
• Support our public safety officers as they look out for at-risk communities

This isn’t just about civil liberties and what’s going on at the federal level — it’s also about how we support our growing Latino community: expanding access to capital, improving language access to services, and recognizing their vital role in our city’s success. Over the past 15 years, Muskegon’s Latino population has doubled. Without that growth, our population would have declined. Latino-owned businesses — from restaurants to counseling services — have strengthened our economy and enriched our culture.

Yet barriers remain: access to loans, translation support, and bilingual legal and advocacy services. I’ve connected local law firms, banks, and nonprofits to the Spanish-speaking community to bridge those gaps.

When I spoke with the County’s Victim Advocacy group that works with victims of violent crime, one of their biggest needs was Spanish-speaking volunteers. I connected them with local mental health counselors who specialize in providing services to our Spanish-speaking neighbors.

When we talk about civil liberties and our community, let’s focus on working together to ensure Muskegon is a city that welcomes diversity and supports every resident — while trusting our public safety officers to do their jobs with integrity and compassion.