Sturgis Mayer Frank Perez took part in a podcast interview with 500 Grand Studios, broadcast earlier this week on YouTube.
During the conversation, Perez makes comments regarding an April 22 city commission motion to censure him and another to remove him as mayor.
The proposals were submitted by vice mayor Jeff Mullins, who represents the city’s first precinct.
Each resolution deadlocked in a 4-4 vote, with commissioner Marvin Smith absent.
A roll-call vote was conducted for each, with an identical result. Mullins, Daniel Boring, Aaron Miller and Justin Wickey voted yes. Voting no were Cathi Abbs, Richard Bir, outgoing commissioner Linda Harrington and Perez.
At the meeting, Mullins said the commission has a right to enforce its rules and expect ethical and honorable conduct from its members.
“Since he became a commissioner, mayor Perez has repeatedly been at odds with commission rules, regulations, policies and laws,” Mullins said. “I’ve tried to figure out if this is just inadvertent or whether it is intentional.”
A partial summary of the resolution for censure presented by Mullins noted “explicit duty” of officials to act in the public’s interest, respect the process to require good governance, and claimed Perez has repeatedly ignored reminders by legal counsel of what is proper conduct by a commissioner.
Mullins did not reveal specifics about the accusation of misconduct.
In the podcast interview, Perez reiterated some of what he said during the April 22 meeting, after failure of the resolutions. He also said he has nothing to hide, and called the attempt at censure “destructive.”
“The only thing I’m disappointed in is … bullying is real. Making accusations that you can’t back up …”
“It’s one thing to go into a meeting and be ridiculed. Those who saw the (meeting) video, I didn’t interrupt Jeff Mullins from speaking, I didn’t interrupt Aaron (Miller) from speaking. I did eight years in the military, primarily to protect free speech. Now, how they use free speech, as compared to how I use it? Totally different. What’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong, and I’m not going to be ashamed about it.”
Perez made reference to the search process to find a successor for city manager Andrew Kuk, who announced his resignation at the April meeting, effective in July.
Perez said he has consulted the city’s legal counsel and asked to research using a hiring firm for the process, and to help set goals and objectives for the city commission, “so that we speak as one board.”
“Right now, we’re shooting from the hip,” Perez said. “We have no goals and objectives.”
He insists he has no ill will toward any of the board.
“I won’t bash Jeff. I think he’s a great guy,” Perez said. “I don’t think there’s one person on the commission who doesn’t love Sturgis. I just wish we could take that energy and be more constructive.”
Sturgis Sentinel sought comment regarding the podcast from both Mullins and Miller. Mullins did not immediately return an email request. Miller said he watched the interview, but declined to comment.
Perez, who represents Precinct 4, was appointed by the commission as mayor in 2023, and was reappointed in 2025.
500 Grand Studios is a media agency that specializes in visual storytelling and content production, according to its website.
