Whitewater Times

Michael Smith, recently elected as the 1st District Alderman for Whitewater, expressed his gratitude following his victory. "I am humbled by the win," he said, emphasizing that housing was the primary concern for voters. Smith made these remarks to the Whitewater Times on April 4.

"I am humbled by the win in the 1st Aldermanic District," said Smith, Whitewater City Councilman. "I am a pretty conservative guy and I knew I needed about one in four Crawford voters. The biggest issue in Whitewater right now is housing. My message was that all the apartments that the city wants taxpayers to subsidize was a horrible idea."

According to Ballotpedia, Smith was elected as the new representative for the 1st Aldermanic District on the Whitewater Common Council. The election took place on April 1, 2025, and saw Smith succeed Patrick Singer, who had announced his decision not to seek re-election in December 2024. Smith's opponent in the race was J. Christopher Wilt.

Smith reiterated his appreciation for voter support after securing the seat. He told the Whitewater Times that his campaign centered around addressing housing issues in the city. He opposed city-backed subsidies for apartment developments: "The housing issue is that big that I got the Crawford voters. That message was shared by every single voter with whom I spoke without exception. Voters want quality of life to improve in Whitewater; fixing the lakes and getting a vibrant downtown is where the resources need to be placed." Gaining support from voters in Crawford was crucial to his success.

According to Whitewater Banner, voter turnout was steady during this election, with 1,562 residents participating. This election also marked the first use of electronic Badger Books for voter check-in, which helped streamline the process with minimal issues.

In May 2024, as reported by Whitewater Banner, the Whitewater Common Council approved a development agreement for a 128-unit apartment complex on Moraine View Parkway proposed by Slate Development, Inc. This project included a $5.1 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) subsidy and faced criticism from community members concerned about public funds being used for private housing developments. Critics like Smith argued that such subsidies unfairly burden taxpayers and advocated redirecting resources toward initiatives aimed at enhancing quality of life in Whitewater.

Smith is a senior mechanical engineer and project manager at GE Healthcare with over 16 years of experience, according to Whitewater Wise. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and is pursuing a master's degree in theology from Covenant Theological Seminary. Additionally, he has served as a citizen alternate on Whitewater’s Plan Commission.