Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Antel officially resigned her seat on the Wayland City Council Monday night in order to be eligible to become the city’s first female mayor next November as the only candidate on the general election ballot.

Her successor on the council will be sought during the next couple of weeks and City Manager Josh Eggleston said the deadline for applying will be Friday, Aug. 12. He said he hopes interviews can be conducted Monday, Aug. 15.

Councilman Joe Kramer was selected her successor as mayor pro tem.

Antel, a substitute teacher, Wayland Middle School cross country and track coach and Pampered Chef consultant, has been a member of the City Council since 2003. She holds a master’s degree in public administration with emphasis in city management from Grand Valley State University.

She has been a passionate supporter of a bike and pedestrian trail along what used to be called the interurban and has been active in the Downtown Development Authority and city park development.

Kramer, best known for his work with Wayland Area Emergency Management Services, has been a member of the council since being appointed in 2018 and elected in 2019 and 2021.

Antel succeeds Tim Bala, who has been mayor since being elected in 2008.