Pannier won’t seek third term as Morrison mayor

MORRISON – Mayor Everett Pannier will not seek a third term this spring, he confirmed Tuesday.

Pannier, 77, said in an interview that his choice to walk away from the office was personal.

“It’s just time,” Pannier said. “Eight years is long enough, and with my age and health and everything, I thought it was probably pertinent to not re-run.”

Pannier was first elected in 2013, and was re-elected in 2017. Mayors serve 4-year terms and run without a political party affiliation.

He won’t completely abandon his involvement with city government: He plans to stay in touch with how the city moves forward, but from a distance, Pannier said.

“My intent is that when a new regime takes over — they take over, but I’ll be watching what happens with the redo of five blocks of Main Street.”

According to petitions to run in the April 6 consolidated election filed in the last week, city residents will have a choice between two candidates for mayor: acting City Clerk Scott Vandermyde and current Ward 3 Alderman Vernon Tervelt.

Vandermyde, 57, a retired insurance executive, has been the acting city clerk since mid-July.

Tervelt, 77, a retired manager and sales representative, first was elected to represent the 3rd Ward in 2015. He ran unopposed in 2019, and was reelected to a second term.

Tervelt’s term is slated to expire in 2023, meaning that were he to be elected mayor, he could appoint, and the council could approve, someone to fill his spot as alderman.

The petitions to run further show that every current alderman intends to run for reelection, unopposed.

Two alderman from each of the city’s four wards are elected to 4-year terms, except when the term is 2 years.

In Ward 2, Alderman Harvey Zuidema is running seeking a fourth 4-year term.

In Ward 3, Alderman Josh West is running seeking reelection to a 4-year term.

In Ward 4, Alderman Kevin Bruckner Jr. is running seeking the 4-year term, while Alderman Arlyn Deets is running seeking the unexpired 2-year term.

Deets won the 4-year term in 2017, after being elected to the 2-year term in 2015.

Bruckner secured the 2-year term in 2019.