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Civil Case Against The Village of Mayville Continues on Monday
Mary Drier
Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:08:59 EDT
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Mayville, MI.
- Legal wrangling in a civil case over who can serve on the Mayville Village Council is taking longer than expected.
The lawsuit was filed by Clare Fryers and Judy Chesney, who previously won the right to have their names on the election ballot and won council seats a year ago, but have not been allowed to be sworn in or take their seats.
The court docket expected the case to be resolved on Friday, but it was not.
"Testimony closed yesterday afternoon. It will continue on Monday with closing arguments and then it will go to the jury," Tuscola County Clerk Jodi Fetting said.
The case is a civil suit that will be decided by a six-person jury.
A previous ruling by Huron County Judge Gerald Prill last year determined that Fryers and Chesney could run as candidates on the election ballot. Both were elected, with Chesney winning as president and Fryers as a trustee.
However, in 2024, when Fryers and Chesney attempted to attend the council meeting to take the oath of office and their seats, they were locked out of the village hall.
Fryers and Chesney are suing the village as well as Kristen Valentine and Beau Shaver, who are occupying the council seats despite not being elected by village residents.
The attorney representing the village says the village is following the law, which prohibits anyone who owes an unpaid debt to the village from holding office.
According to the village, Chesney owes $10.90 for an unpaid Freedom of Information Act request, and Fryers allegedly owes the village an assessment.
