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Board certifies April election results, honors longtime alderwoman and fills openings
Summary
The Board certified April 8 election results, welcomed newly sworn aldermen, recognized outgoing Alderman Christina 'Chris' Clause for 20 years of service and appointed her to the Board of Adjustment; Bruce Rogers was sworn in and committee assignments and board officers were set.
The Fenton Board of Aldermen certified the official results of the April 8 general election, swore in newly elected members, set board leadership and committee assignments, and recognized outgoing longtime Alderman Christina "Chris" Clause for two decades of service.
Election certification: City Clerk Jane Hundler presented official results from the April 8 election. The clerk reported Mayor Joe Morath received 440 votes; Alderman Ward 1 (two‑year term) Terry Brightshaft (106 votes); Alderman Ward 2 Brian Wisprack (110 votes); Ward 3 Bruce Rogers (87 votes) and Mohammed Jarrett (15 votes; Rogers prevailed); and Ward 4 Susan Jokers (151 votes). Alderman Clause moved to accept the general election results; Alderman Lang seconded the motion, which carried by voice vote.
Swearing-in and appointments: The newly constituted board took oaths of office and conducted a roll call to confirm a quorum. Bruce Rogers, previously a Board of Adjustment member, was presented and sworn in; Mayor Morath read a plaque recognizing Rogers’s prior service on the board of adjustment and announced a brick would be placed in his honor at the Heroes Memorial.
Board organization and appointments: The board elected Robin Hules as president of the board by motion and voice vote. Liaison appointments included Alderman Harrell as planning and zoning liaison and Alderman Hules as parks and recreation liaison (motions and seconds recorded; motions carried).
Recognition and appointment of Chris Clause: Mayor Joe Morath presented a plaque honoring Alderman Clause for 20 years of service (attendance recorded as 924 of 990 official meetings during her tenure). The mayor announced Clause had accepted a position on the Board of Adjustment; the board voted to appoint her to an unexpired term on that board ending May 2026. The appointment motion carried by voice vote.
Why this matters: Certification of election results and the seating of new members completes the city’s electoral process; leadership and liaison assignments determine committee representation and oversight of planning, parks and other municipal functions. The board’s recognition and reappointment decisions preserve institutional experience by moving a long‑serving elected member to an advisory quasi‑judicial board.
What’s next: The board set a combined training meeting with the city attorney for the second committee meeting in May (noting schedule coordination for members) and adjourned to a short recess for refreshments.
