Muskegon Heights’ new mayor pick, Andre Williams, turns down the job as ousted Mayor Bonnie McGlothin appeals

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS — The Muskegon Heights councilman picked as mayor on Monday says he will not take the job, leaving the city’s top elected office in limbo while ousted Mayor Bonnie McGlothin fights the move that pushed her out.

Councilman Andre Williams Jr. declined the appointment in an email to fellow council members and City Attorney Te Smith, WOOD-TV and MLive reported. The council had voted 4-2 on Nov. 9 to name him mayor, and he ran most of that night’s meeting from the mayor’s seat, FOX 17 reported.

“A false narrative has been painted that I sought this position for personal ambition. I cherish serving our community, but I refuse to serve under false pretenses or be drawn into political maneuvering,” Williams wrote, according to WOOD-TV. He added that “the actions, depictions, and characterizations made by certain elected officials during this process warrant further review.”

Williams voted for himself on Monday. In the email, he said he did so only because he was told he could not abstain and because the other person put forward, Mayor Pro Tem Kellie Kitchen, said she would not serve, WOOD-TV reported. He wrote that the council had been told it must pick a replacement within 60 days and could not move ahead on pressing issues until it did.

Why the seat is in dispute

Smith told the council that McGlothin forfeited her office under section 2.06(b)(4) of the city charter, which says the mayor or a council member forfeits office for missing three consecutive regular council meetings without being excused by the council. The city says she missed the Aug. 10, Aug. 24 and Sept. 14 meetings, MLive reported. She was ousted Oct. 26, according to WOOD-TV. The city attorney has also told WOOD-TV the city has no protocol for excusing absences.

McGlothin’s attorney, Joel Fauson, says she missed those meetings while being treated for leukemia, notified the mayor pro tem and the city clerk before each one, and is appealing. “The Council never determined or advised Mayor McGlothin at the time that her absences were unexcused,” Fauson wrote to the council, according to MLive. “It should not now be making this judgment several months after the fact.” He has asked for a public hearing.

The city has said information about her health and messages about the absences do not, on their own, show that the council formally excused them, FOX 17 reported.

McGlothin has served on the council since 2005 and became mayor in 2023. Her term runs through 2027. The dispute is the latest turmoil at Muskegon Heights City Hall, where two council members were charged earlier this fall in a city land case. No date for a new appointment vote had been reported as of Friday afternoon.

Sources:
MLive, “Muskegon Heights’ leadership saga continues as newly named mayor declines appointment,” Nov. 2026, https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2026/11/muskegon-heights-leadership-saga-continues-as-newly-named-mayor-declines-appointment.html
WOOD-TV, “Muskegon Heights councilman rejects mayoral appointment,” https://www.woodtv.com/news/muskegon-county/muskegon-heights-councilman-rejects-mayoral-appointment/
WZZM 13, “Andre Williams declines appointment as Muskegon Heights mayor,” Nov. 12, 2026, https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/andre-williams-declines-appointment-as-muskegon-heights-mayor/69-063b29f2-9d4d-4c4a-84de-6314d04e82e3
FOX 17, “Andre Williams declines to fill Mayor Bonnie McGlothin’s seat,” https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/muskegon/andre-williams-declines-to-fill-mayor-bonnie-mcglothins-seat-councilmember-says
Image: AI-generated illustration by The Mitten Daily.

Muskegon

Tags: Muskegon · Muskegon Heights · Andre Williams · Bonnie McGlothin · City council · City charter