Mayor Christopher Taylor led his last regular Ann Arbor City Council meeting Thursday, Nov. 5, capping nearly two decades in city government.
The meeting also marked the end for three departing council members: Chris Watson, Ayesha Ghazi Edwin and Dharma Akmon. The departing officials received tributes from their colleagues, WEMU reported.
Taylor thanked those he had worked with over his tenure. He called the work “the honor of a lifetime” in a farewell speech, according to MLive. Taylor served 18 years on the council, including 12 as mayor.
Term gap before new council
A change in state law created a scheduling problem. Under Michigan Public Act 17 of 2026, signed by the governor June 20, newly elected city officers cannot start their terms before noon on the first of the month after their election.
Taylor’s term and the current terms of reelected Council Members Cynthia Harrison and Jenn Cornell expire Nov. 13, according to the city’s transition announcement. Their successors’ terms begin at noon Dec. 1.
The council passed a resolution extending Harrison’s and Cornell’s current terms until 11:59 a.m. Dec. 1. It also extended Travis Radina’s service as mayor pro tem to that time. His mayor pro tem term otherwise expired Nov. 5.
The city says the mayor pro tem assumes the mayor’s duties and powers when the mayor’s office is vacant.
Upcoming meetings
The city plans to hold its next regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., without considering substantive business.
Incoming Mayor Yousef Rabhi, who defeated Taylor in the August Democratic primary, and other new members will begin their terms at noon Dec. 1. Their first regular council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7, according to the city.
