Marquette City Commission reorganizes: Paul Schlegel elected mayor; Jeremy Otaway named mayor pro tem

The Marquette City Commission held its annual organizational meeting on Nov. 17 and completed the customary swearing-in and leadership votes for the coming year.

Clerk-led oath statements were administered to newly seated commissioners Sally Davis and Michael Larson before the commission conducted internal elections for mayor and mayor pro tem.

A straw-poll showed Commissioner Paul Schlegel had the most support for mayor; Commissioner Hanley moved to appoint Schlegel as mayor and Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. The commission approved the appointment and Schlegel took the oath of office.

Commissioners also selected Jeremy Otaway as mayor pro tem after a motion and a second; the vote on the mayor pro tem appointment was recorded as 6 to 0. The commission approved the meeting agenda earlier in the evening (recorded as 6 to 0) and passed the consent agenda by the same tally.

Commissioners used the comments period later in the meeting to acknowledge community concerns raised in public comment, including an urgent appeal about shelter overflow; however, the organizational business concluded without policy changes beyond appointments and routine approvals.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.