Gary Elrod, Ballotpedia

Candidate website

Gary attended Berkley High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. He has served on Berkley's Tree Board and Beautification Committee.

Gary leads marketing and strategy for a workforce management company.

Gary's campaign for Berkley City Council is his first entry into politics.

As of August 12, 2025, Gary Elrod’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Healthcare

Wants to improve infrastructure, expand green spaces and recreation, and foster community engagement.

- Wants to improve infrastructure, expand green spaces and recreation, and foster community engagement.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

Said, "Our stormwater and road systems need long-term planning to prevent costly crises, and I believe in solutions that are both sustainable and fiscally responsible."

Believes Berkley's stormwater and road systems need long-term planning to prevent costly crises.

- Believes Berkley's stormwater and road systems need long-term planning to prevent costly crises.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Gary Elrod

Government - Berkley Mich

Gary is currently a member of the Tree Board. He serves as the Secretary and his term expires in July 2026. 

As of August 12, 2025, Gary Elrod did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Catherine Wade, Ballotpedia

Catherine Wade's campaign for Berkley City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

As of August 12, 2025, Catherine Wade did not have a website or any information online.

Catherine Wade

Dennis S. Hennen - Government - Berkley Mich

Dennis has a bachelor's degree from Lipscomb University and a master's degree from Ohio State University. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Berkley. He is an active member and volunteer at his church.

Dennis is a senior software engineer at Mercury Banking, where he focuses on bank fraud prevention.

Dennis is currently a councilmember on the Berkley City Council. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.

Supports multi-year budget planning to prepare for future infrastructure and staffing needs.

As a city council member, led efforts to ban new retail pet stores in Berkley and enact humane regulations for the existing one.

- Supports multi-year budget planning to prepare for future infrastructure and staffing needs.
- As a city council member, led efforts to ban new retail pet stores in Berkley and enact humane regulations for the existing one.

As a council member, helped launch a pilot program to provide no-cost backflow valves to protect homes from basement flooding.

As a county commissioner, updated zoning and planning rules to preserve "small-town feel" while encouraging "sensible growth."

- As a council member, helped launch a pilot program to provide no-cost backflow valves to protect homes from basement flooding.
- As a county commissioner, updated zoning and planning rules to preserve "small-town feel" while encouraging "sensible growth."

As of August 12, 2025, Dennis Hennen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Pushed for better tracking of city assets and long-term planning for maintenance and replacement.

- Pushed for better tracking of city assets and long-term planning for maintenance and replacement.

Supports tree planting programs and policy changes to expand and protect Berkley’s tree canopy.

- Supports tree planting programs and policy changes to expand and protect Berkley’s tree canopy.

Advocated for bundling major infrastructure projects to save money and reduce disruptions.

- Advocated for bundling major infrastructure projects to save money and reduce disruptions.

Dennis Hennen

Dennis Hennen is from Berkley, Michigan. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics and computer science and a master\u2019s degree in computer science from Lipscomb University and Ohio State University, respectively. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Berkley. He is an active member and volunteer at his church.

Dennis is a senior software engineer at Mercury Banking, where he focuses on bank fraud prevention. He has worked for many small to medium-sized startups. After graduate school, he lived and worked in Worthington, Ohio.

Dennis is currently a councilmember on the Berkley City Council. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. His current term expires in November 2025.

As of August 12, 2025, Dennis Hennen did not have a website or any information online.

As a council member, supported legislation to prevent new construction from flooding existing homes.

Supports regulating firearm retailers in the city.

Believes in establishing a clear policy for charging civic events.

As a council member, enacted legislation to prevent new construction from flooding existing homes.

Supports publishing user-friendly budget summaries and project breakdowns for transparency.

- Supports publishing user-friendly budget summaries and project breakdowns for transparency.

As of August 12, 2025, Josh Stapp’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to expand the city’s online service request platform to be more user-friendly and mobile accessible.

Plans to create a new annual city services guide and ensure all residents have access to a paper or digital copy.

- Plans to expand the city’s online service request platform to be more user-friendly and mobile accessible.
- Plans to create a new annual city services guide and ensure all residents have access to a paper or digital copy.

Supports incorporating green practices like permeable pavement and stormwater drainage solutions to reduce flooding and ease the strain on the sewer system.

Supports implementing "environmentally responsible upgrades."

- Supports incorporating green practices like permeable pavement and stormwater drainage solutions to reduce flooding and ease the strain on the sewer system.
- Supports implementing "environmentally responsible upgrades."

Believes in prioritizing proactive upgrades to utilities such as water, sewer, and electricity, focusing on safety, environmental impact, and resident feedback.

Supports launching a “Fix-it First” program that prioritizes repairs based on resident input and reliable data.

Supports creating safer walkable streets and maintaining strong infrastructure.

- Believes in prioritizing proactive upgrades to utilities such as water, sewer, and electricity, focusing on safety, environmental impact, and resident feedback.
- Supports launching a “Fix-it First” program that prioritizes repairs based on resident input and reliable data.
- Supports creating safer walkable streets and maintaining strong infrastructure.

Josh Stapp

Steve Baker - Government - Berkley Mich

Steve has a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in software engineering from Oakland University. He lives with his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Zoe, in Berkley.

Steve is a process engineering specialist at DTE Energy, where he oversees IT-related strategic alignment and integration, interaction and outreach, and innovation and feasibility on behalf of the company.

Steve is currently a Berkley City Council member. He was first elected in 2009.

As of August 12, 2025, Steve Baker did not have a website or any information online.

Supports reducing financial burdens from permits, inspections, and fees.

- Supports reducing financial burdens from permits, inspections, and fees.

Steve Baker

Steve Baker is from Berkley, Michigan. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and a Master of Science in software engineering from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan. He lives with his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Zoe, in Berkley. He is a recipient of the Taubman Fellowship from SEMCOG, having studied at Harvard Kennedy School.

Steve is a process engineering specialist at DTE Energy, where he oversees IT-related strategic alignment and integration, interaction and outreach, and innovation and feasibility on behalf of the company. He has held many leadership and technical roles during his 25+ years with the company.

Steve is currently a Berkley City Council member. He was first elected in 2009 and his current term expires in November 2025.

Supports partnering with residents to streamline the rebuilding process and reduce financial burdens from permits, inspections, and fees.

Supports the Friends of the Berkley Public Library, Friends of Berkley Parks and Recreation, and the Berkley Junior Women's Club.

- City council members in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Council members attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City council members may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.