Grand Rapids commissioners hear unanimous praise for three city attorney finalists; decision set for tomorrow

The Grand Rapids City Commission received a summary of community and panel feedback on three finalists for city attorney and agreed to reconvene at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow to finish deliberations.

The recruiting consultant from Mosaic told commissioners the search included six engagement events for each finalist: meetings with the executive team, four structured panels (including appointed officials and the law department), a 17-member community stakeholder panel, a peer panel of five local lawyers and a nearly two-hour public forum. The consultant said feedback was remarkably consistent across venues and that all three finalists "are very well-qualified" for municipal work.

Mayor (role)—speaking after the consultant's summary—said the commission has three strong options and emphasized the character traits he values in the job. "What I mostly want out of city attorney is exactly what I mostly want out of a judge. I want a good human being," he said, adding that he wants someone who can work with empathy, hold boundaries and push back when necessary.

The consultant summarized specific strengths and concerns for each finalist. Sarah Hartman was described as a seasoned litigator with notable labor-relations experience, a calm demeanor and strong analytical skills; reviewers noted limited prosecution experience, less community engagement than other finalists and a more conservative, risk-averse approach. Matt Cross, the outside candidate, was credited with broad municipal experience, strong communication and supervisory experience, and a clear enthusiasm for Grand Rapids; some reviewers flagged limited experience in more diverse regions and the need to adapt to a larger in-house staff. Philstrom (referred to in the feedback as Phil) was characterized as the most closely aligned candidate, with deep institutional knowledge of Grand Rapids, leadership experience and community ties; concerns included a tendency toward overcommitment and less of an outsider's perspective.

Commissioners largely echoed the consultant's themes. Commissioner Kilgore thanked applicants and Mosaic, calling the candidate pool meaningful and saying she planned to decide after reconvening. Commissioner Knight emphasized stability and team fit, saying she wanted someone who could "put their feet on the ground and start running." Other commissioners noted the value of different experiences—insider continuity versus an outside perspective—and repeated panel concerns about delegation and equity responses.

No formal motion or vote occurred during the session. The mayor adjourned the meeting and said the body would reconvene tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. for what he expected to be about an hour of deliberation; he also noted a 10:30 a.m. document-signing commitment related to the timetable.

The commission's next action will be the reconvened deliberation and potential selection tomorrow; commissioners also acknowledged members of the public may speak at the regular commission meeting tonight and that public comment could inform the final choice.