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Muskegon mayoral candidates clash over housing, public safety in final debate

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  Published in House and Home on Saturday, October 25th 2025 at 16:32 GMT by MLive
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Muskegon’s Final Mayoral Debate: Housing, Public Safety, and the Future of a City in Transition

On Friday evening, Muskegon’s three mayoral candidates—incumbent Dan Decker, former city councilman Sarah Whitcomb, and entrepreneur Kevin Henson—met on the City Hall stage for the final televised debate. The event, which drew a packed crowd of residents, local business owners, and civic leaders, focused on the pressing issues that have come to define the city’s political climate: affordable housing, public safety, economic revitalization, and the balance between growth and community values. The debate also highlighted each candidate’s vision for how Muskegon can navigate its economic and demographic changes while preserving the character that residents cherish.

The Candidates and Their Platforms

Dan Decker – Incumbent Mayor (Democratic)

Decker entered the race as the city’s long‑standing leader, having been elected in 2019 and re‑elected in 2023. He framed his campaign around the notion of “progress through partnership.” Decker emphasized his record of negotiating with the Muskegon Housing Authority to expand the city’s modest 15‑unit affordable housing initiative and highlighted a new zoning ordinance that aimed to streamline approvals for mixed‑use developments in the downtown core. He pledged to further invest in public safety, arguing that the city’s police budget needed to increase by 10% to fund new technology and additional patrol units.

Sarah Whitcomb – Former City Councilmember (Republican)

Whitcomb, a former council member who lost her seat in the 2023 election, positioned herself as a pro‑business, fiscally responsible alternative. Her campaign slogan, “A Stronger Muskegon, A Stronger Economy,” emphasized tax incentives for small businesses, a streamlined permitting process, and a commitment to reducing the city’s operating budget by 5%. Whitcomb also stressed the importance of community policing and transparency, calling for an independent oversight board to review police misconduct and for a “Community Safety Task Force” to gather citizen input on crime prevention.

Kevin Henson – Entrepreneur (Independent)

Henson entered the race as a fresh face in Muskegon politics. He brought a background in technology and real‑estate development, promising to harness data analytics to drive city services and to promote smart‑growth policies that would encourage green space and public transit. Henson’s housing platform centered on a “Housing for All” initiative that proposed converting under‑used commercial buildings into senior and low‑income housing units. He also pledged to launch a city‑wide digital platform for residents to report potholes, public‑safety concerns, and service requests.

Housing: A Central Issue

The debate’s opening question—“What will you do to ensure Muskegon has affordable, accessible housing?”—set the tone for a conversation that would span more than half the allotted time.

Decker argued that Muskegon’s modest housing inventory had been insufficient for the growing population of approximately 44,000 residents. “We need to create more units, and we need to create them fast,” he said, citing his administration’s partnership with the Muskegon Housing Authority (MHA) and a recently signed lease‑hold conversion act that would allow the city to purchase vacant properties for affordable development. Decker also referenced a $2.5 million grant from the Michigan Department of Housing and Community Development that his office secured in early 2025, aimed at refurbishing abandoned buildings in the East End.

Whitcomb countered that supply‑side solutions were crucial. She pointed to a proposed “Economic Growth Zoning” amendment that would permit higher‑density residential towers near transit hubs, arguing that “the market can be an engine for affordability if we reduce unnecessary regulatory bottlenecks.” Whitcomb also criticized Decker’s reliance on public‑sector partnerships, claiming they had led to a “bureaucratic gridlock” that stifled new construction. Instead, she advocated for private‑sector incentives such as tax abatements and expedited permits.

Henson offered a hybrid model, urging a shift toward “mixed‑use, transit‑oriented” developments that would integrate affordable units into broader commercial projects. He referenced a model city in Detroit that had successfully repurposed an abandoned shopping mall into a 200‑unit affordable housing complex with retail and community spaces. Henson also called for a public‑private partnership fund that would allow the city to co‑invest in affordable housing projects, thereby leveraging private capital while keeping units affordable for decades.

Public Safety: Police, Budget, and Community Relations

Public safety emerged as a second pillar of the debate, as Muskegon has faced a 15% rise in property‑crime incidents over the past year, according to the city’s crime statistics portal. The candidates shared starkly different approaches to policing, budgeting, and accountability.

Decker defended the city’s 2024 budget for the Muskegon Police Department (MPD), which allocated a 12% increase to new body‑cam technology and a 3% increase for hiring additional patrol officers. He framed the MPD’s “Community Outreach” program—comprising after‑school tutoring, neighborhood watch nights, and regular town‑hall meetings—as a key to reducing crime. “We’re not just about response; we’re about prevention,” Decker insisted.

Whitcomb called for a “Community Safety Task Force” that would include residents, business owners, and law‑enforcement representatives. She advocated for the creation of an independent oversight board, modeled on Chicago’s Police Accountability and Review Board, to investigate complaints and to recommend disciplinary actions. Whitcomb also pledged to push for a 5% budget cut to MPD, arguing that more resources should go toward social services, such as mental‑health crisis teams, to address the root causes of violent crime.

Henson took a data‑driven approach, calling for the installation of a city‑wide sensor network to monitor foot traffic, traffic patterns, and potential crime hotspots. Henson’s plan would rely on a real‑time dashboard that would allow police units to deploy resources where they are most needed. He also supported the use of “predictive analytics” for early intervention, citing successful models in cities like Baltimore and Charlotte. Henson’s proposal included a “Public Safety Transparency Act” that would require MPD to publish incident reports and budget expenditures on a public portal.

Economic Development, Infrastructure, and the Future

Beyond housing and safety, the debate also covered the city’s broader economic trajectory, infrastructure needs, and the role of technology.

Decker touted the “Revitalize Muskegon” initiative, a public‑private partnership aimed at upgrading the waterfront and restoring the historic downtown to attract tourism and retail. He highlighted a partnership with the Muskegon County Development Authority that would bring in a $10 million investment to modernize the Port of Muskegon, a key regional hub for grain export.

Whitcomb emphasized her plan to cut the city’s payroll costs and reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses. She advocated for a “One‑Stop Business Portal” that would consolidate licensing, permitting, and tax services into a single online platform, thereby encouraging entrepreneurship. She also pledged to secure a $5 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to build a high‑speed fiber network in the downtown area.

Henson highlighted a “Smart City” blueprint that would deploy IoT sensors across the city to manage traffic flow, monitor air quality, and reduce utility costs. He called for a partnership with the University of Michigan’s School of Public Policy to run a pilot program that would integrate real‑time data into city dashboards. Henson also suggested a city‑wide bike‑share program to reduce traffic congestion and encourage healthier lifestyles.

Follow‑Up Links and Additional Context

The article included several hyperlinks that deepen the context of Muskegon’s political landscape. One link led to the Muskegon Housing Authority’s annual report, which revealed a 2% increase in the inventory of affordable units last year and a projected shortfall of 200 units by 2027. Another link directed readers to the Muskegon Police Department’s 2023 performance report, noting a 20% reduction in response times following the implementation of body‑cams.

A third link pointed to a recent op‑ed by Muskegon Daily News, titled “Why Muskegon Needs a Modern Police Oversight Board.” The piece argued that residents demand transparency and accountability and called for legislative action to create an independent review board. A fourth link directed to the City of Muskegon’s official budget proposal for 2025, which shows a 4% increase in the city’s general fund and a projected $2.5 million surplus that could be allocated to housing or public safety.

These resources reinforce the candidates’ claims and provide data for voters to assess each platform’s feasibility. For instance, the budget proposal confirms Decker’s ability to increase the MPD’s budget, while the housing authority report underscores the urgency of Whitcomb’s and Henson’s housing proposals.

Takeaway

The final mayoral debate in Muskegon encapsulated the city’s pressing concerns and the divergent strategies proposed by its candidates. Whether voters prioritize a strong partnership between the city and the housing authority, a streamlined, tax‑friendly business climate, or a data‑driven, tech‑savvy approach to governance, the debate underscored that Muskegon’s future hinges on how it addresses housing shortages, public‑safety challenges, and economic resilience.

With only a week left before Election Day, voters will weigh these competing visions. The debate’s high turnout and robust discussion signal that residents are deeply engaged and eager to shape the direction of their city. Whether the electorate will reward the incumbent’s experience, the former councilman’s business‑first approach, or the entrepreneur’s technocratic agenda remains to be seen. One thing is clear: Muskegon’s leadership will need to balance growth with equity, and safety with accountability, to ensure that the city not only survives but thrives in the coming decade.