Disclosures made by members of the Grand Rapids City Commission identify any possible conflicts of interest in their city work.
The information comes from the Commission’s 2026 financial disclosure statements, which The Grand Rapids Herald obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Commissioners are required to report any potential conflicts annually, to avoid the appearance of “using public office for private gain” and a “lack of independence or impartiality of action.”
The materials included cite administrative policy signed by the city executive office in 2016. That policy calls on city elected officials to treat Grand Rapids residents “with courtesy, impartiality, fairness and equality under the law.”
“It is not the intent of this Policy to in any way limit the right or ability of any Elected or Appointed City Official to exercise his or her discretion in making legitimate policy decisions which are within their discretion so long as such action does not provide a special benefit to that person, relieve the Elected or Appointed City Official of a particular duty, or treat that person differently than other similarly situated City Residents,” the policy stated.
Authority to investigate potential conflicts of interests is designated to the city attorney and city Labor Relations Department. City policy lists several potential punishments for commissioners found to be engaging in conflicts of interest, including censorship and dismissal from the commission.
Lisa Knight
Second Ward Commissioner Lisa Knight, who is running for reelection, identified two organizations as having paid either herself or her spouse more than $5,000 in wages.
The first group, Girls Choral Academy, lists Knight as its executive director. The second group, concrete services company DV Apple Logistics, lists her as its chief executive officer.
Knight did not list LMK Consulting, a company where she currently acts as “principal,” according to her Linkedin profile. The commissioner also confirmed to The Herald she no longer works for Public Thread, a small fashion business of which she was once a chief operating officer.
Knight identified three community organizations of which she is a board member. These include “CoC,” Family Promise of West Michigan, and Circle Theater. The commissioner did not list any income from investments over $5,000 and did not name any current or prospective contracts with the City of Grand Rapids.
David LaGrand
Mayor David LaGrand reported having ownership stake in seven Grand Rapids businesses. Those include Long Road Distillers, five real estate holding companies and a law firm.
He also reported his wife Melissa LaGrand’s income from her position as a Kent County Commissioner.
The Commission in February approved a 12-year Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Long Road Distillers, which exempted the facility from “ad valorem real and/or personal property taxes” for 12 years while it conducts a $680,000 renovation project. LaGrand recused himself from that vote.
LaGrand also acknowledged two of his business partners, Kyle Van Strien and Jon O’Connor, serve on city boards.
Under his assets, LaGrand reported an unspecified number of properties located on six streets throughout the city. He also identified five retirement accounts under his name bearing over $10,000 in value.
The mayor did not name any current or prospective contracts with the City of Grand Rapids or future employment contracts after his time in office concludes.
Marshall Kilgore
Third Ward Commissioner Marshall Kilgore disclosed two outside employments, including Marshall Kilgore Consulting LLC and the Michigan Environmental Council, where he serves as movement building coordinator. Each group paid Kilgore more than $5,000, he reported.
He did not report any stock income, board memberships, or city contracts. Kilgore also did not report any city contracts or future employment contracts.
AliciaMarie Belchak
First Ward Commissioner AliciaMarie Belchak reported herself as a board member at The Other Way Ministries, a non-profit, “Christ-centered community development organization.” She also reported two other income sources from one rental property and her spouse’s job at an Amazon warehouse.
Commissioner Belchak reported no stock income over $10,000. She reported no city contracts and no future employment contracts after leaving office.
Kelsey Perdue
Third Ward Commissioner Kelsey Perdue acknowledged a potential conflict of interest in her “exploring investing in GR-based developments.”
Perdue acknowledged she serves as a board member for First Steps Kent, a group which hopes “every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed in school and life.” She also reported serving on the board of Family Promise of West Michigan.
She reported owning an unspecified number of properties across three city streets and two retirement accounts as assets. The commissioner reported no pending city contracts and no pending employment contracts after leaving office.
Milinda Ysasi
In addition to her city income, Second Ward Commissioner Milinda Ysasi reported receiving over $5,000 in compensation from GROW, a community development financial institution, where she serves as CEO. She also reported her spouse’s work at Corewell Health.
Ysasi reported no board memberships and no stock income over $5,000. She did not report any pending city contracts or future employment contracts.