City Council

Mayor John Murphy was elected to serve as Mayor for the City of Petoskey in 2016 and has continued to serve for the last 7 years. Mayor Murphy was first elected to serve a two-year Councilmember term by Second Ward residents that began in 2013 and again in 2015. He has also served on the City of Petoskey's Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission. Mayor Murphy is a retired Educational Consultant with Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). He holds a Master's Degree in Education and attended Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University and North Central Michigan College. He has two adult children Colin and Morgan. Mayor Murphy has resided in the City of Petoskey for 61 years. Mayor Murphy may be reached at:

Councilmember DeMoore was first elected by First Ward residents to serve a two-year term beginning in 2022 and was re-elected to a three year term beginning in 2024.  She is an attorney/mediator and holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University’s Honors College, a law degree from Wayne State University, a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Master of Laws in Canadian Common Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.  Councilmember DeMoore served three terms on the Petoskey School Board and is serving her fourth term representing the 57th Circuit on the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.  She was a co-founder of Northern Community Mediation and Flowers for Friends, a local non-profit that recycles donated flowers into smaller arrangements delivered to isolated community members in need of a smile.  Councilmember DeMoore is married to Charlie Rettstadt and has three adult children.  She has resided in the City of Petoskey  since 1980.  Councilmember DeMoore may be reached at:

Councilmember Shiels was first elected to serve a two-year term by Second Ward residents that began in 2021 and was re-elected for a three year term beginning in 2023.  Councilmember Shiels is the Director of Land Stewardship at Little Traverse Conservancy.  He holds a Bachelor of Science and two Masters in Science degrees in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, and Biology and attended Grand Valley State University, Taylor University and Central Michigan University.  He is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School and the Great Lakes Leadership Academy's Emerging Leaders Program.  He currently serves on an advisory committee for United Way.  He and his spouse, Adrienne, have 2 children.  Councilmember Shiels has resided in the City of Petoskey for 10 years. Councilmember Shiels may be reached at:

Councilmember Wagner was first elected to serve a two-year term by Third Ward residents that began in 2019 and was re-elected for a three year term beginning in 2024. Councilmember Wagner is an entrepreneur, having co-founded global management consultants, PTIS LLC in 2000. He holds a degree in Packaging from Michigan State University, and is a University of Houston Certified Futurist.  Councilmember Wagner is married to Petoskey-native Dawn Daly-Wagner and has three adult children, Laura, Katie, Brett and two grandchildren in Petoskey schools.  He is active with the Petoskey Chamber, a Leadership Little Traverse Mentor and serves on local Board of Directors for several organizations including the C.S. Lewis Festival and Big Water Creative Arts. Councilmember Wagner has resided in the City of Petoskey for over six years. Councilmember Wagner may be reached at:

Walker Councilmember Walker was elected to serve as Fourth Ward Councilmember for the City of Petoskey that began in 2018 and was re-elected for a three year term beginning in 2023.  Councilmember Walker has been with Emmet County Recycling since 2007 as recycling outreach, market development and commercial accounts, and advocates passionately for all things waste reduction.  She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Northern Michigan Community Action Agency.  She is part of the Thriving Petoskey initiative and is very passionate about affordable housing, renewable energy and environmental activism.  Councilmember Walker was born and raised in Petoskey, graduated from Petoskey High School in 1992, holds an undergraduate degree in Women's Studies from Antioch College, Yellow Springs Ohio and a Masters in International Development from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.  She has two children Sofia age 24 and Hiram age 17.  The three of them are living "small" on Emmet Street and can usually be found working on her fixer upper. Councilmember Walker may be reached at: