Wayland Mayor Antel Named Michigan Municipal League President
The Michigan Municipal League appointed new leadership for the 2026-27 term, impacting state municipal policy advocacy.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in People
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Wayland Mayor Jennifer Antel has been appointed as the board president of the Michigan Municipal League for the 2026-27 term. She succeeds outgoing president Joshua Atwood following an appointment during the organization's annual conference.
Why it matters
The Michigan Municipal League acts as a central advocacy group for local governments, meaning changes to board leadership can shift the focus of policy efforts and legislative priorities affecting municipal operators across the state.
Jennifer Antel assumed the presidency for the 2026-27 term, succeeding Joshua Atwood in the role. The appointment was confirmed during the annual Michigan Municipal League conference.
The players
Jennifer Antel
The Mayor of Wayland and the newly appointed board president of the Michigan Municipal League.
Michigan Municipal League
A statewide organization representing and advocating for the interests of Michigan municipalities.
Dennis Hennen
A Berkley Councilman and the incoming vice president of the Michigan Municipal League.
Joshua Atwood
The outgoing board president of the Michigan Municipal League.
Mike Fritz
A Grand Haven Councilman and board trustee for the Michigan Municipal League.
The details
Jennifer Antel, who previously served as the league's vice president, was elevated to the top board seat during the recent conference on Mackinac Island. Dennis Hennen, a Berkley Councilman, has been appointed as the new vice president, while Grand Haven Councilman Mike Fritz continues as a board trustee. The league serves as a statewide collective of municipalities, focusing on local government advocacy and resource sharing.
Timeline
Week of October 5, 2026: Jennifer Antel was named board president.
2026-2027: Jennifer Antel serves as board president.
Market Landscape
The transition occurs at the Michigan Municipal League annual conference, which serves as the traditional venue for the organization's governance updates. This shift follows the group's established bylaws for leadership rotation among municipal representatives.
Business operators should note that the Michigan Municipal League's new leadership may influence the scope of municipal lobbying efforts regarding state-level regulations. Stakeholders should track upcoming league policy announcements to identify shifts in municipal advocacy that could impact local compliance environments.
The takeaway
New leadership often signals a change in the policy priorities pushed by municipal advocacy groups in Lansing. Operators should monitor the organization's official communications to see which regional regulatory issues receive increased attention under the new board.
Further reading
For updates on local government leadership and regional governance changes, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 92.7 The Van WYVN | Holland's Classic Hits.
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