(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/05/23) A former legislative candidate and mayor of Saugatuck was arraigned Monday on misdemeanor charges.
Leigh Garnet Lewis, who lost in 2018 to Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), is charged with failure to report a violation on nominating/initiative petitions, according to 57th District Court records in Allegan County.
Lewis, who is free on a $1,000 personal bond, is scheduled for a pretrial trial 10:45 a.m. April 27 before Judge Joseph Skocelas. The charge carries a penalty of up to one year incarceration and a $500 fine.
Details on the charges, which were investigated by the Michigan State Police, were not immediately available tonight.
A message to a phone number listed as Lewis’ was not returned.
Lewis, whose is one of six owners of Isabel’s Market and Eatery in Saugatuck and owner of Vigano LLC, a commercial real estate investment operation, also unsuccessfully ran for Senate District 32 in 2014. In that race, she was endorsed by former House Speaker Lewis Dodak.
In 2008, she ran for the 98th House District seat in the face of the one-man, one-woman marriage amendment of 2004.
Lewis, who was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in February to the Michigan Travel Commission for a term ending Aug. 20, 2026, is also a former chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party.
Her LinkedIn page says she’s also a former mayor for Saugatuck, where she currently serves as a council member. Her term expires in November, according to the city’s website.
