Marshall Kilgore

05/12/2026

I was honored to attend Cherry Health’s Prescription Strength Luncheon. It was powerful to hear the real-life stories shared by community healthcare workers and learn more about how they are working day in and day out to provide essential services, preventative care, behavioral health support, and critical resources to our neighbors.

The conversation also highlighted serious concerns about potential Medicaid cuts and what that could mean for families across our community. Access to affordable, quality healthcare is essential, not optional, and any reduction in coverage or services would have real consequences for people who are already navigating significant challenges.

As Tasha Blackmon said in reference to these challenges, “One monkey don’t stop no show.” That message really reflects what I witnessed in the room. I am in awe of the Cherry Health team and the way they continue pushing forward no matter the odds to provide care, meet people where they are, and serve our community with compassion and dedication.

As your commissioner, I remain committed to supporting this vital work and advocating for continued access to healthcare for every member of our community. Thank you to Joy Fossel for the invitation and to Cherry Health for hosting such a meaningful and inspiring event.

05/06/2026

On Tuesday, our community lost two lives in a heartbreaking act of violence connected to a dispute at a local soccer gathering. My heart is with their families and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss.

We cannot accept violence as normal in our city. I remain committed to working alongside residents, partners, and our community violence prevention efforts to help stop this trauma and build safer neighborhoods for all.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!🌎

Honestly, it is every day if you give a d@mn.

I am proud to have dedicated my professional career to serving our planet and its people. When I ran for office in 2024, I made environmental justice a core part of my platform, and neighbors in the 3rd Ward overwhelmingly said yes to that vision.

Caring for our future is not a fringe idea, it is a winning one. It means taking climate change seriously, investing in solutions, and making sure every neighborhood is part of that progress.

That is why I was proud to help pass our city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, a roadmap to cut emissions, strengthen infrastructure, expand green space, and protect the health of our community as conditions change. It is about cleaner air, safer streets, and a more resilient future for everyone.

And we are just getting started. The work continues, and I am committed to seeing it through.

Let’s keep showing up for our planet, today and every day. 💜

04/18/2026

What a great night and an honor to serve as emcee for the Kent County Democratic Party Annual Spring Gala. Grateful to be in community with so many folks who are committed to building a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone.

We’ve got a lot of work ahead this year, and I’m glad to see Kent Dems fired up, organized, and ready to keep fighting for democratic values like fairness, opportunity, and dignity for all.

Proud to be in this with you all.💜😁

03/31/2026

I am deeply appalled by the Supreme Court’s decision to allow conversion therapy practices to continue. This ruling is a harmful step backward and a direct attack on the dignity, safety, and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals across our country.

In an 8–1 decision, the Court struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, siding with a counselor who argued the law violated free speech protections. 

As a Commissioner here in Grand Rapids, I want our LGBTQ+ neighbors to know that you are valued, respected, and supported. Our community is strongest when everyone can live openly and authentically without fear of harm or discrimination.

In Michigan, we must continue doing the work to ensure protections are real, meaningful, and enforced. Hate has no place in our state or in our city, and I remain committed to advancing policies that protect and uplift every member of our community.

Read more from the Associated Press:

The Supreme Court has ruled against a law banning “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ kids in Colorado, one of about two dozen states that banned the discredited practice.