Incumbent Mayor Ken Johnson won a second four-year term in Tuesday’s election, beating challenger Bob Garretson.
But there is confusion over whether he will be able to serve, as voters also passed a 12-year term limit.
The newly re-elected mayor previously served on the city commission beginning in 2014 and will have served 12 consecutive years by the end of this year.
Commissioner Willie German has served 14 years.
The language in the term-limit amendment to the city charter was brought by the Muskegon Partnership for Reasonable Limits, a citizen’s group.
After a state review of the ballot initiative, city leaders posted letters from both the Michigan Governor and Attorney General stating the proposed amendment is contrary to current state laws regulating term limits.
City leaders are working to clarify the next course of action on the legality of the amendment.
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