Backus is seeking his first term on the city commission. His family has called Buchanan home for five generations and he and his wife, Megan, are raising their two sons here.
By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN, MI – Four people are running for three seats on the Buchanan City Commission this November. Buchanan residents will decide that race as well as the fate of the Dial-A-Ride millage renewal.
The Dial-A-Ride renewal asks voters to approve a .80 mill renewal to fund Dial-A-Ride transportation services. The renewal will be for four years, from 2027 through 2030. If approved, the millage will generate $96,039.00 in the first year.
The city commission ballot will also feature a fifth candidate, Tony Houser, whose decision to withdraw came after the deadline to do so. Houser said recently that he is in the process of moving out of the city.
Those running for the three open four-year seats are incumbents Raquell George, Dan Vigansky, and Mark Weedon, and challenger John Backus. George was appointed to the commission two years ago, and Vigansky is seeking is third term on the commission, as is Weedon who currently serves as the city’s mayor.
George, 24, is a Buchanan native and is currently the office manager at Michigan Farm Bureau. She said she decided to run for a full four-year term because she sees the city as being at a pivotal point and wants to continue building on the city’s recent progress.
George, 24, is a Buchanan native and is currently the office manager at Michigan Farm Bureau.
“I want to help ensure our community has a strong future for those coming up behind us,” she said. “I want to see Buchanan thrive, and I believe my continued service, fresh perspective, and commitment to our residents can help move our city forward.”
She said her top priorities are fiscal responsibility, maintaining essential municipal services, continuing to address infrastructure needs, protecting the city’s quality of life, and continuing to improve and revitalize the city’s neighborhoods. She wants to see neglected and deteriorating properties continue to be addressed.
She cites her top accomplishments in her two years in office as seeing the $19 million downtown infrastructure completed, the Downtown Development Authority reinstated, and being part of improvements to Kathryn Park. She said her goal is to continue to listen to residents and advocate for the community.
Vigansky, 71, is seeking his third term on the commission, having served from 2014 to 2018 and 2022 to this year. He is a retired truck driver and business owner, and he and his wife, Jackie, have six children. He currently serves on the city’s planning commission and has also served on the Buchanan Area Recreation Board and the joint water-sewer committee.
Vigansky said while some consider him controversial, he said he’s not scared to ask the questions that need to be asked.
He said he always wanted to serve the community and was first able to do so in the mid 2010s and more so now as he is retired. He said his endorsements are the people who have elected him twice to the commission. He said while some consider him controversial, he said he’s not scared to ask the questions that need to be asked.
He said his top accomplishments include pushing to get retail marijuana businesses in the city, hiring current City Manager Tony McGhee, and working to get infrastructure improvements done including needed water and sewer system upgrades. He said the city’s ongoing water and sewer rate increases are necessary and less than in other communities.
Weedon has served eight years on the commission, from 2018 to the present. He and his wife, Megan, live in Buchanan. He said he is running again because he believes the city has made tremendous progress but still has more work to do. He said the city has built momentum in recent years and he wants to make sure the city keeps moving forward.
The issues most important to him are maintaining strong and consistent leadership at City Hall including retaining McGhee as city manager, continuing street and infrastructure restoration including lead pipe replacement throughout the city, and creating additional housing and business opportunities in the city.
In terms of accomplishments, he said that the commission has worked in the last eight years to finish a lot of major projects including major infrastructure work. He’s also proud of the business investments being made in the city along with the public investments in parks, public spaces, and the downtown.
Weedon has served eight years on the commission, from 2018 to the present.
Backus is seeking his first term on the city commission. His family has called Buchanan home for five generations and he and his wife, Megan, are raising their two sons here. He has more than 10 years of experience in the financial services industry and currently works for Honor Credit Union. He volunteers in the community, especially with youth sports.
He said he is running to bring a fresh perspective, strong leadership and a genuine commitment to the city’s future. He said he decided to run because he wants to help ensure the city remains a place businesses can succeed, families feel safe and people are proud of the city. He thinks his professional background can bring a valuable perspective to the city.
He opposes any tax increase and favors fiscal responsibility and keeping the city a great place to raise a family. His goals are to lead with integrity and protect taxpayers while collaborating with other commissioners and city staff. He would look for ways to improve services, strengthen infrastructure and invest in the future while living within people’s means.
Backus is seeking his first term on the city commission. His family has called Buchanan home for five generations and he and his wife, Megan, are raising their two sons here.
