Small-Town City Government Targets Resident for Speaking Out—Now He’s Running for Mayor

Resident says city tried to silence him—now he’s fighting back.

SPECIAL REPORT:

BANGOR, Mich. — A resident of Bangor, Michigan, is challenging local leadership and seeking office after what he describes as ongoing government mismanagement and suppression of public input. Steve Honeycutt, a father of three and vocal community advocate, is now running for mayor following a controversial resolution passed by the city council that appeared to threaten legal action against outspoken citizens.

“I just want transparency,” Honeycutt told me in an interview. “Everything I’ve requested is related to city business. But instead of answers, I’ve been labeled a troublemaker.”

Honeycutt says he began filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to better understand how taxpayer dollars were being spent—particularly regarding the city manager’s pay. One request was denied on the grounds of “invasion of privacy,” despite similar payroll records being publicly accessible across the state.

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The issue gained statewide and even national attention earlier this year after a closed-session council meeting resulted in a resolution authorizing the city manager to pursue legal action against residents accused of defamation. No lawsuits have been filed, but Honeycutt believes the move was intended to silence critics ahead of the upcoming May 6 election.

“They’re using intimidation,” he said. “But I’m not backing down.”

Honeycutt also played a key role in pushing the city to begin recording and posting its council meetings, a practice that had not been in place until citizens took the initiative.

“We need accountability. I’m not doing this just for my kids—I’m doing it for everyone’s kids. We deserve better,” he said.

With Bangor’s population under 2,000, Honeycutt hopes his grassroots campaign will restore what he calls “common-sense leadership” and return city hall to the people.

“The city belongs to the taxpayers,” he said. “They deserve to be heard—not threatened.”