Margaret Doud

Margaret M. Doud (born May 29, 1943) is the mayor of Mackinac Island, Michigan. Doud has served as the mayor since April 14, 1975, making her the longest currently serving mayor in the United States. She has run unopposed as a nonpartisan in most of the 51 mayoral elections that she has won.

Career Margaret M. Doud was born on May 29, 1943. Her father, Robert Doud, and her grandfather, James Doud, both were mayor of Mackinac Island prior to her tenure. In 1975, Doud defeated former mayor Otto Emmons to succeed retiring incumbent Clemens Gunn. She took office on April 14, 1975.

Although Mackinac Island has about 600 residents, this popular vacation destination welcomes over 1 million visitors during the tourist season, so the city government provides services and infrastructure to accommodate thousands of visitors at a time throughout the summer months. The mayor and the six-member city council oversee large fire, police, and infrastructure services similar to those required for large cities but that are tailored to island priorities of sustainability, walkability, and bicycle or horse-drawn transportation. For more than 50 years, Doud has been the spokesperson for the island. She has stated that her priorities are to preserve and protect the unique history and culture of the island while adapting as necessary to the realities of 21st century expectations.

As well as being the mayor, she managed the historical Windermere Hotel along with her mother, Jeannette Doud, and now manages it full-time after her mother's death in 2015. She occasionally contributes to The Mackinac Island Town Crier, the island's local newspaper.