Stevensville Mayor Crews Reflects on First Two Months Back in Office

After a narrow election victory, the former mayor aims for a kinder, more collaborative approach this time around.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Jim Crews, who previously served as mayor of Stevensville from 2016 to 2018, was elected to a second term in November 2025 after narrowly defeating incumbent Bob Michalson. Crews had been barred from town hall during his previous term for allegedly harassing town employees. Now two months into his new term, Crews is taking a different approach, focusing on being more visible, responsive, and collaborative with both town staff and the public.

Why it matters

Crews' return to the mayor's office after a contentious prior term raises questions about whether he can repair relationships and govern in a more inclusive manner. His handling of issues like the farmers market fee schedule and plans to address long-standing problems with water and sewer rates will be closely watched by the community.

The details

In his first two months, Crews says he has been focused on getting reacquainted with town staff and operations, rather than rushing to make changes. He has not fired anyone, contrary to rumors, and is seeking feedback from employees on potential improvements. One issue he's addressing is Resolution 540, which revised the special event fee schedule in a way that drew backlash from the local farmers market. Crews says the goal is to clarify the fees and ensure the market is not unduly burdened, while also having vendors pay for power usage.

  • Crews was elected mayor in November 2025, narrowly defeating incumbent Bob Michalson.
  • Crews took office in January 2026 and is now two months into his new term.

The players

Jim Crews

The newly re-elected mayor of Stevensville, who previously served from 2016 to 2018 before being barred from town hall for allegedly harassing employees.

Bob Michalson

The incumbent mayor whom Crews defeated in the November 2025 election.

Jenelle Berthoud

The Stevensville town clerk.

Stevensville Farmers Market

A long-running community event in Stevensville that has raised concerns about proposed changes to the special event fee schedule.

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What they’re saying

“Have I fired anyone? No sir.”

— Jenelle Berthoud, Town Clerk

“I promised I'd be visible. So, when people come to town hall, they look over, they see the mayor sitting here. If they want to talk to me, they can come on in and talk to me.”

— Jim Crews, Mayor

“The question is, is the farmers market a continuous event or an ongoing event? We're looking at approving it as an ongoing event that happens on multiple days. So there would be only one fee.”

— Jim Crews, Mayor

What’s next

The town council is expected to further discuss and potentially revise the special event fee schedule, including the fees for the Stevensville Farmers Market, at their next meeting on March 12.

The takeaway

After a contentious prior term, Mayor Crews appears to be taking a more collaborative approach in his second stint, focusing on building relationships with staff and the community. However, he still faces the challenge of addressing long-standing issues like high water and sewer rates, while navigating sensitive matters like the farmers market fee schedule.