We the People: Meet Dowagiac’s first new mayor in nearly three decades

DOWAGIAC, Mich. (WNDU) - Dowagiac residents elected Patrick Bakeman as their new mayor, ending Don Lyons’ 28-year tenure that began in 1997.

Bakeman garnered 81% of the vote in the November election. Voter turnout for this mayoral election was more than double the last contested race, with almost 1,200 voters participating compared to 500 in the previous election. The city has 3,500 registered voters.

Bakeman, who owns Barber Brothers barbershop in downtown Dowagiac, was sworn in Monday along with new city council members.

“I felt like the timing was right for me to step up to this next challenge and the community was ready for some change, and I felt like I was the person who could do that,” Bakeman said.

The new mayor said his family has deep roots in the community.

“Born and raised here, being born at the hospital, all four sides of my family have been here for over 100 years. So, this is our home and to be able to serve the community at this level, what an honor for our family,” he said.

Bakeman said his focus will be on what he calls “simple services.”

“You know, they want their potholes filled, they want their streetlights taken care of. So, I want to start there first and then I want to work with city council and the city manager and the assistant city manager to make a plan for what we think is important,” he said.

Bakeman identified the city’s declining population as his biggest challenge.

“We’re like a sleeping giant here, and that’s why I think people came out and spoke,” he said. “They want someone pounding the drums, someone’s saying we’re here, we’re ready to go, we have a strong workforce and we’re ready to get this community to take it to the next level.”

In his first week, Bakeman has scheduled ride-alongs with local police and fire departments. He is also preparing for the city’s Christmas parade, set for the first Friday of December.

“We’re going to get busy,” Bakeman said.