Lowell Mayor Mike DeVore is running for reelection in November, marking the fourth time his name has been on the ballot since 2015, when he was initially elected.
Ushered in as part of a slate of candidates promising change eight years ago, DeVore spent one year as mayor pro tem before moving into the mayoral position a year later. He says he’s proud of the work he’s done for the city, and while there have been setbacks and challenges, he describes recent years as an “abundance of forward progress.”
“When I ran initially, I was more bitter about how things were going,” he explains. “Now, I’m running because I have a lot of pride in the way things have gone.”
DeVore appreciates that voters have many options in this year’s election, and he hopes that residents will select his name on the ballot so he can continue the work he’s started.
He is one of five people – two incumbents and three challengers — running for three spots on Lowell City Council during this year’s general election on Nov. 7, 2023.
Longtime Resident, Experienced Councilmember
A resident of Lowell for 22 years, DeVore has spent the past 10 years working as a 911 dispatcher. The 43-year-old has a son, daughter and granddaughter and is well-known for his love of hockey. He also professes a deep love for Lowell.
When asked about his long-term vision for the city, DeVore replies: “To leave it noticeable better than I found it.” To that end, Lowell’s mayor has taken advantage of opportunities to hone his leadership skills. For instance, he recently received the Level Two Leadership Award from the Michigan Municipal League’s Elected Officials Academy.
At MML events, DeVore has a chance to network with other leaders, and he reports that Lowell is well-respected by officials from across the state. That’s a reputation he hopes to continue to foster as he is slated to serve on the Elected Officials Academy Advisory Board.
Closer to home. DeVore serves as the council’s representative on the Fire and Emergency Services Authority Board and the Downtown Development Authority Board. He also heads up the Vision Alliance which is a group of local government, business and education leaders who meet for a collaborative discussion about issues facing the community.
In addition to his work on various boards, DeVore says he tries to volunteer to help at downtown business events whenever he can.
Making the Right Decisions for Lowell
DeVore says effective leaders can’t govern by popularity, and he’s focused on making the right decisions for the community. Over the years, he’s experienced some hard times on the council – such as when the city’s biodigester went horribly wrong – but working through those have helped strengthen his skills as a councilmember.
Looking forward, he thinks the main challenge for the city will be maintaining its current level of service without the addition of new funding.
“Right now, we’re benefiting from the marijuana (tax) money like you wouldn’t believe,” he says. “That won’t last forever.”
The question becomes how the city will fill the gaps, and DeVore says smart budgeting is part of the solution. He notes that residents turned down a proposal for a city income tax, and raising the millage rate isn’t feasible either. Therefore, councilmembers will need to be careful about how they use the city’s resources.
For DeVore, this is a challenge he is eager to address. “I’m not afraid to work hard,” he notes.
At the same time, he wants to foster a sense of community and ensure that all residents feel they belong in Lowell – “To make sure everyone feels heard,” according to DeVore. He adds that doesn’t necessarily mean that he and other councilmembers will simply do what someone wants. Instead, they will listen to all sides and take action that is right for the community as a whole.
“I’m running because I love it here,” DeVore says, “and I’m excited to continue the progress we’ve made.” He hopes voters will recognize that progress as well and return him for another term on Lowell City Council.
For more information about Mike DeVore, you can visit his campaign Facebook page.
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