Three Write-In Candidates Seek Two Cedar Springs Council Seats

Growth, city spending and the importance of listening to residents are central themes for three write-in candidates seeking two seats on the Cedar Springs City Council.

With no candidates’ names printed on the ballot for those seats, voters will need to write in their choices in the Nov. 3 election. Renee Race, Brittany Batt and Mark Laws are seeking the positions.

The Cedar Springs Bugle reached out to all three candidates about their experience, priorities and vision for Cedar Springs. Their responses describe different approaches to a shared goal: supporting the community while preserving its small-town character.

Renee Race: Experience, Responsible Growth and Financial Stability

Renee Race points to her service on the Planning Commission, City Council and as the city’s current mayor pro-tem as experience she would bring to another term.

In her questionnaire responses, Race said those roles have deepened her understanding of local government while reinforcing the importance of making residents feel heard. She is running to continue contributing to the community and provide experience and consistency on the council.

Race identified responsible growth, infrastructure and financial stability as the city’s biggest challenges. Her first-year priorities would include careful spending, maintaining infrastructure and services, planning for development and improving communication with residents.

“I want to ask the basic questions: Do we need it? Can we afford it? And does it make sense long-term?” Race said of budgeting decisions.

She supports development that accounts for its effects on roads, utilities, services and neighborhoods.

“We can grow without losing the small-town character that makes Cedar Springs special,” she said.

Race also emphasized that listening does not always lead to a decision everyone supports. When opinions differ, she said council members should consider the perspectives and facts before deciding what best serves the city as a whole.

She sees room to improve both communication and long-term planning, particularly in helping residents understand why decisions are made.

Brittany Batt: Community Involvement and a Broader Business Mix

Brittany Batt said she and her daughter moved to Cedar Springs in 2021. Since then, she has focused on getting to know neighbors, volunteering and putting down roots.

Batt is open about having no local government experience. She instead points to her willingness to learn, ask questions and consider different approaches to problems.

“I’m a fast learner and a dedicated person to causes that I truly believe in,” she wrote.

Greater community involvement is her leading priority. Batt said she wants residents to better understand city decisions and feel more included in shaping them. If elected, she would begin by seeking a clearer understanding of city operations from within the council.

Her approach to budgeting would emphasize support for residents and local businesses, creative problem-solving and researching alternatives before committing additional money. She questioned spending focused on a polished image that, in her view, may not reflect Cedar Springs’ identity.

Batt also favors a more varied business district and fewer cannabis businesses over time. She said she would like to see the number of licenses reduced as businesses close, rather than continued turnover to new operators, and wants greater attention paid to how businesses contribute to the community.

Another concern is the proposed data center in neighboring Solon Township. Batt said residents there deserve support as they work to make their voices heard.

On public participation, she wants residents’ comments to help inform council decisions throughout the process.

“The City Council role is not to make decisions as an island, we are to represent the city and our residents,” she wrote.

Batt said she would remain accessible through Facebook, email and informal conversations, including meeting neighbors for coffee or a walk around town.

Mark Laws: Spending Restraint and Small-Town Character

Mark Laws describes himself as a retired operations management professional and grandfather who has lived in Cedar Springs for 15 years.

According to his responses, he holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Eastern Michigan University. His career included work with UPS, the armored car industry, a software development company, the Federal Reserve Bank and Huntington National Bank.

Locally, Laws said he has served on the Planning Commission and Red Flannel Festival Board. Those roles, he said, gave him experience working alongside the council.

Laws entered the race after learning the seats would depend on write-in candidates. Preserving Cedar Springs’ small-town character is a central reason he wants to serve.

“I enjoy the character and feel of the small town,” he wrote. “I would not sacrifice that for development.”

His first-year priorities include concerns about the proposed data center, keeping spending under budget and work on the city’s master plan. He also identified roads, water and other infrastructure as important issues.

Laws acknowledged that he would need to learn more about the city’s finances before discussing specific budget changes. His general preference is for less government spending and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

He also wants more comfortable, transparent exchanges between residents and council members. Some people, he said, may feel intimidated attending a meeting or speaking during public comment.

Laws believes council members should spend time talking with residents and business owners outside formal meetings, and he said he is willing to share his personal contact information to encourage those conversations.

“I can not represent them or do what is best for the community without their input and concerns,” he wrote.

Casting a Write-In Vote

The candidates offer voters distinct priorities: Race emphasizes experience and continuity; Batt focuses on broader participation and a more varied business community; and Laws stresses spending restraint and preserving Cedar Springs’ character.

To cast a write-in vote, voters should enter their chosen candidate’s name in the designated space under the City Council contest and completely fill in the corresponding oval. Voters should follow the ballot’s instructions on the number of candidates they may select.