What is Civic Mirror?

Civic Mirror is a civic technology platform designed to make government easier to understand, research and engage with. It brings together information about elected offices, public spending, legislation, judicial decisions and civic events into a single, searchable interface. The goal is to reduce fragmentation and help people see how public institutions function in practice, not just in theory.

What problem is Civic Mirror trying to solve?

Most public information already exists, but it is scattered across dozens of websites, written in technical language, and difficult to connect across roles, agencies and decision-making processes. Civic Mirror focuses on aggregation, context and clarity — helping users understand who is responsible for what, how decisions are made, and how those decisions connect over time.

Is Civic Mirror affiliated with a political party or campaign?

No. Civic Mirror is designed as a non-partisan platform. It does not endorse candidates, promote political parties, or tell users what positions to take. The platform is structured to present primary information and sourced material, allowing users to draw their own conclusions.

How does Civic Mirror maintain neutrality?

Neutrality is addressed structurally rather than rhetorically. The platform surfaces original sources wherever possible, clearly labels summarised content, and allows users to view information through different lenses — including progressive, conservative or just the facts. The intent is transparency about framing, not hidden editorial judgement.

What kind of information does the platform include?

Depending on availability, Civic Mirror can include: lists of elected offices at state, county and local level; role descriptions explaining what each office is responsible for; budget and spending information tied to specific offices; legislative bills with plain-language summaries; judicial rulings categorised by case type; public calendars, meetings and livestream links; and evidence panels linking officials to sourced articles, rulings or statements. All content is designed to be navigable without requiring specialist political knowledge.

How does Civic Mirror use AI?

AI is used primarily to process large volumes of public information and convert complex material — such as legislation or court rulings — into readable summaries. The underlying source material remains available, and summaries are intended as entry points, not replacements for original documents.

How can users engage with elected officials through Civic Mirror?

Where verified contact information exists, Civic Mirror allows users to send structured, one-click emails to elected officials about legislation, votes or public actions. The platform also supports pre-written question prompts to help users engage constructively, especially those new to civic participation.

Does Civic Mirror collect or sell user data?

Civic Mirror is designed to minimise data collection. User profiles exist to support engagement features, but the platform is not built around targeted advertising or data monetisation. Long-term sustainability is being approached cautiously, with an emphasis on trust and public value.

What makes Civic Mirror different from existing civic or transparency tools?

Many existing tools focus on a single dimension — voting records, legislation, budgets or elections. Civic Mirror's differentiator is connection: linking roles, decisions, money, events and outcomes so users can see how individual actions fit into a broader system. The emphasis is on continuity rather than snapshots.

Who is Civic Mirror for?

Civic Mirror is for anyone who wants a clearer, more connected understanding of how government works — whether they are voting, researching an issue, attending meetings, or simply trying to stay informed about the institutions that affect their daily lives. It is designed to be usable by people with no prior expertise, while still supporting deeper exploration for advanced users.

What is the long-term vision for Civic Mirror?

The long-term goal is to create durable civic infrastructure — what Pecenica describes as connective tissue between the public and their representatives. Rather than focusing on individual election cycles or controversies, Civic Mirror aims to support ongoing engagement, accountability and institutional memory over time.

What's next for the platform?

Planned enhancements include candidate profiles alongside existing officeholders, improved issue-based filtering (e.g. environment, education, infrastructure), deeper legislative tracking across committees and voting stages, and expanded coverage beyond Indiana. Development is iterative, with user feedback shaping priorities.

Newaygo County

84 seats · 84 filled · 0 vacant

Show:

	✎▶Seat CAND	TIP Name ⊘ AMA	Next Election
▶ Municipal (15: 15 filled, 0 vacant)
+	Monroe Mayor	() Robert Clark	Nov 2, 2027
+	Mayor	() Ed Fedell	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Lee Black	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Erin Burns	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Denise DeVries	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Jim Engemann	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Katie Walerczyk	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Bob Walker	Nov 2, 2027
+	Mayor	() Brian Miller	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Damon Anuci	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Amy Barnhard	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Herm Becker	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Candice Dault	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Jeff Murchison	Nov 2, 2027
+	City Council Member	() Lori Shears	Nov 2, 2027
▶ School (47: 47 filled, 0 vacant)
+	School Board Member	(N) Marlaina Cole	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Hannah Connor	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Angel LeFevre-Welke	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Cari Ledbetter	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Thayer McDonough	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Richard Speck	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Kevin Stipp	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Andy Cook	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Ross Fulton	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Sami Jackson	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Laura Johnson	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Michelle Ruelle	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Michelle Allen	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Patrick Broton	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Al Daniels	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Ryan Good	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Barbara Maynard	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Jason Newman	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Scott Rumsey	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Debra Evans	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Caitlyn Frost	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Mark Gath	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Crystal Jordan	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Beth Miller	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Maryann Smith	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Peter Theisen	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Tom Frisbie	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Bruce Gracik	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Vince Grodus	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Jami Schultz	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Reid Sherwood	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Sara Smith	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Mary Spicer	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Jennifer Alderink	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Phillip Bender	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Gail Freehling	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Thomas Rosenbluth	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Nicole Springer	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Jennifer Strefling	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Vickie Wagner	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Megan Cruzan	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Elaine Engel	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Rhonda Hedlund	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Jim Jones	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Mindy Mench	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Jeff Murchinson	Nov 2, 2027
+	School Board Member	(N) Harry Stevens	Nov 2, 2027
▶ County (5: 5 filled, 0 vacant)
+	Judge of Probate	(N) Melissa Dykman	Nov 3, 2026
+	Newaygo County	() Jason VanderStelt AMA	Nov 3, 2026
+	Drain Commissioner	() Jerry Grifhorst	Nov 3, 2026
+	Register of Deeds	() Branda Jones	Nov 3, 2026
+	Sheriff, n/a	() Bob Mendham	Nov 3, 2026
▶ Judicial (2: 2 filled, 0 vacant)
+	Judge Dist 27	(N) Robert D Springstead	Nov 3, 2026
+	Judge Dist 27	(N) Ellsworth J Stay Jr	Nov 3, 2026
▶ State (5: 5 filled, 0 vacant)
+	MI Governor	(D) Gretchen Whitmer	Nov 3, 2026
+	MI Attorney General	(D) Dana Nessel	Nov 3, 2026
	MI Secretary of State	(D) Jocelyn Benson	Nov 3, 2026
+	Michigan Senate District 34	(R) Roger Hauck AMA	Nov 3, 2026
+	Michigan House of Representatives District 100	(R) Tom Kunse AMA	Nov 3, 2026
▶ Federal (10: 10 filled, 0 vacant)
	U.S. Representative — District 2	(R) John Moolenaar AMA	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Frances Behm	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Terrence Berg	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Paul Borman	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Robert Cleland	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Susan DeClercq	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Gershwin Drain	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Nancy Edmunds	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan	(N) Bernard Friedman	Nov 3, 2026
+	U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan	(N) Jane Beckering	Nov 3, 2026

County Calendar

Click an official to view their profile and evidence.

Newaygo County, Michigan

On Record Crossposts Socials