Case against former Saugatuck mayor to be dismissed, as long as fines are paid
ALLEGAN COUNTY — Former mayor and current Saugatuck City Council member Leigh Garnet Lewis appeared before a judge Friday, Aug. 11, to plead guilty to a single charge of failing to report a violation on a nominating/initiative petition.
Lewis was first arraigned in 57th District Court in Allegan County in April. The incident dates back to July 26, 2022.
Lewis’ guilty plea comes three months after she initially pled not guilty. She'll pay a $500 fine and court fees. She could've faced up to one year in jail for the charge — instead, Judge Joseph Skocelas approved a delayed sentence of six months. As long as the fines and fees are paid in that time, the case will be dismissed.
More: Saugatuck councilmember, former mayor arraigned on election law charge
In court, Lewis admitted she failed to sign a petition sheet and didn’t report it.
When pressed by Michigan Assistant Attorney General Melissa Palepu, Lewis said the person who signed as circulator on her paperwork was not, in fact, her circulator, something she was aware of when she turned it in.
In a statement provided by Lewis after the proceedings, she said every signature she received was valid and from a registered voter. In an effort to put the issue in the past, she said, she waived her legal defenses and pled guilty.
“I agree with the delayed sentence and am committed to demonstrating that I won’t make the same mistake again," Lewis wrote. "I look forward to seeing the case dismissed after this probationary period. Even with years of experience circulating nominating petitions, mistakes can happen. I clearly made one. This process has been an expensive lesson, and one that I will not repeat."
She added she'll be running for council again.
"I look forward to running as a candidate for Saugatuck City Council and continuing the work of delivering good government for the people of the city that I call home.”
Saugatuck Mayor Scott Dean said he felt dismissal was the correct outcome, and added "the mark of a true leader is to have the courage to admit mistakes, learn from them and move forward."
"I’m pleased that councilmember Lewis and at least three other candidates are running for council in November," Dean wrote in a statement. "In an era where negative campaigning and personal attacks have infected even non-partisan local races, it's refreshing to see that people in this community still have the courage to put themselves out there in the service of our city."
Lewis was first elected to council in November 2019. She was reelected in November 2021 for a two-year term. She served as mayor in 2022.
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Lewis, a Democrat, previously ran for statewide office in 2008, 2014 and 2018.
In February, Lewis was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Travel Commission, representing an individual with experience in the travel, tourism and recreation industry for a term running Feb. 21, 2023, to Aug. 20, 2026.
Lewis is also part-owner of Isabel’s Market and Eatery in Douglas and of Vigano LLC, a commercial real estate investment operation.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Case against former Saugatuck mayor to be dismissed, as long as fines are paid
