Second Ward candidate Bryan Cody wants the City Commission to set Grand Rapids’ agenda, and housing is at the top of his to-do list.

“In my view, this city should work for the people, and the people’s voices go through the commissioners,” he said. “The commissioners set the policy and the direction through the staff of the city manager. It’s not the other way around.”

Cody is running against incumbent City Commissioner Lisa Knight for the four-year seat.

“There is a thought process currently that the job of a commissioner is to listen. I believe that is a portion of the job,” Cody said. “I believe that right now, more than ever, we need commissioners who listen, then take action, put people in the rooms to get stuff done, to create the ideas and then hold it accountable.”

Cody moved to Grand Rapids in 2019. Originally from Michigan’s thumb, he attended Mid Michigan College for his associate’s degree and completed his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University.

He worked as a restaurant server, with the goal of eventually opening a boutique hotel. Realizing that dream would require both money and knowledge of property management, he got his real estate license and worked for Berkshire Hathaway for three years. The Covid-19 pandemic solidified his decision to stay in Grand Rapids, and so looking for ways to connect more, he started a networking group called the Professionals of Grand Rapids.

Cody purchased a six-unit, multi-family house in Heritage Hill in 2021, living in one of the apartments and renting out the others. He started a brokerage, which offers both property management and real estate investment services.

Cody chaired the Heritage Hill Association Board and ended his term in 2025. At the same time, he was on the Commercial Alliance of Realtors Political Affairs Committee and was made its RPAC trustee for the Michigan Realtors. 

His experience as a realtor, landlord, tenant, property manager and a broker has given him a look into the issues driving the city’s housing needs. Housing, Cody emphasized, was the chief priority of his campaign.

“Right now, we really need to take a deep dive in looking at our policies. Are they archaic? Do they make sense?” Cody said.

The City Commission is well-positioned to make sure permitting moves quickly, and ordinances actually promote safety and habitability without being stifling. 

“When you look at the smaller guy who just wants to build a duplex down the street, their costs are really high, and so we’re missing that ability to capture that market,” Cody said.

On the campaign trail, Cody said he has often heard from small businesses that proposed street designs don’t make sense. Parking was the second-biggest issue, after housing.

“I understand the goal, but we’re not there yet, and it’s going to take a big, not only mindset shift for Grand Rapidians, but also a resource shift,” Cody said. “We have people in Ada. How are they going to get downtown and enjoy Eastown if there’s not enough parking? There’s not even a bus that goes there.”

Cody has been endorsed by the Young Democrats of Michigan, the Grand Rapids Firefighters Union, the Greater Regional Alliance of Realtors, the Commercial Alliance of Realtors and the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

“One thing that I’ve been really cognizant of is I am in a nonpartisan race, and I do not want to alienate anybody…” he said. “Specifically at the local level, you can call me and have a conversation, and I want everyone, no matter what they believe, no matter the way they vote, I’m going to treat you with respect. I’m going to listen to you. You have a seat at the table,” he said.

He hopes to build on the city’s existing transparency measures and work to make city functions more efficient. Talking to the parties affected before a policy is going to be implemented will improve trust, he said, and lead to better decisions.

“A few times, I’ve noticed things are proposed. Then, people get mad. People from the city go and walk it, and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re right. This is kind of dumb.’ Well, how many resources did we waste doing all of that?” Cody said.

An earlier draft said that Cody ended his term with the Heritage Hill Association in 2023. It was corrected to 2025. The Grand Rapids Herald regrets the error.

Write to juliana@grherald.com