Michael "Ari" Mandelbaum | City of Southfield

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Michael Ari Mandelbaum is a long-time resident of Southfield. He has a master's degree in business administration from Wayne State University, with a concentration in management and marketing, and a graduate certificate in project management from Lawrence Technological University. He has three children.

Michael works as a pharmacy compliance analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where he previously served as a senior analyst in commercial business compliance and as a customer service team leader. He also worked as lead instructor at MJI Institute, and earlier as an assistant manager at At Your Service Kosher Catering.

Michael serves as a Southfield City Council Member, a position he has held since 2015. He is the current council president pro tem.

Supports strengthening the local economy through responsible budgeting, job creation, business development, and redevelopment of vacant and commercial sites.

- Supports strengthening the local economy through responsible budgeting, job creation, business development, and redevelopment of vacant and commercial sites.

Economy

Supports new housing development, affordable apartments, and senior housing initiatives.

- Supports new housing development, affordable apartments, and senior housing initiatives.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports home safety inspections by the police department.

Supports strengthening policing through body cameras, improved equipment, and diversity training.

Supports investment in fire department training facilities and updated equipment.

- Supports home safety inspections by the police department.
- Supports strengthening policing through body cameras, improved equipment, and diversity training.
- Supports investment in fire department training facilities and updated equipment.

Public Safety

As of August 13, 2025, Michael Ari Mandelbaum’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Supports implementing diversity training for city employees and establishing a diversity officer position.

Supports increasing efficiency in city government through expanded online permitting services.

- Supports implementing diversity training for city employees and establishing a diversity officer position.
- Supports increasing efficiency in city government through expanded online permitting services.

Public Services

Supports expanding walking trails and preserving natural areas.

- Supports expanding walking trails and preserving natural areas.

Energy & the Environment

Supports investment in infrastructure including road, water main, bridge, and sidewalk improvements.

- Supports investment in infrastructure including road, water main, bridge, and sidewalk improvements.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Michael Ari Mandelbaum

Contact Southfield City Officials — Advocates for Michigan Wildlife

As of August 13, 2025, Michael Ari Mandelbaum did not have a website or any information online.

Working with the Council on a program called Southfield 101 to educate residents and businesses on unique programs and offerings in Southfield, such as home safety inspections by the Police Department.

Buket Urgen

Ashanti Bland earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University. She lives in Southfield.

Ashanti currently works at General Motors as a senior auditor. She previously worked at Detroit Manufacturing Systems as a SAP analyst.

Board Members - Southfield Public School District

Ashanti is currently a member of the Southfield Public Schools Board of Education. She was elected in 2021.

As of August 13, 2025, Ashanti Bland did not have a website or any information online.

Authority Health Establishes Child and Adolescent Health Center in ...

Supports the Capital Facilities Bond Proposal, saying it "will affect every Southfield student, school facility and community member."

Supports school facility investments through bond measures to improve education and community resources.

- Supports school facility investments through bond measures to improve education and community resources.

Ashanti Bland

Ashanti is currently a member of the Southfield Public Schools Board of Education. She was elected in 2021 and her term ends in 2026.

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Catrina earned an associate degree in business administration from Oakland Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Walsh College, and a master’s degree in human resource management from Walsh College. She serves as a Sunday School coordinator, instructor for Ambassadors Bible Training School, and Kommunity Builder coordinator for The Konnection.

Catrina is the founder of Consulting with Class, a business in property management and real estate. She is also a certified Accredited Residential Manager through the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Catrina Butler’s campaign for Southfield City Council is her first run for public office. 

As of August 13, 2025, Catrina Butler’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to invest in youth and public safety.

- Plans to invest in youth and public safety.

Aims to strengthen public services and infrastructure.

- Aims to strengthen public services and infrastructure.
- Supports working families.

Catrina Butler

As of August 13, 2025, Catrina Butler did not have a website or any information online.

Daniel Brightwell | City of Southfield

Daniel Brightwell is from Southfield, Michigan. He has a bachelor of arts in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and a master of business administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has served as chairperson of the City of Southfield Veterans Commission, treasurer of the Dr. M.L. King Task Force, president of the Parent Teacher Association at Lewis Cass High School, president of the Detroit Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, and a member of the Founders Society at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Daniel is the owner and president of General Business Services in Southfield, where he provides consulting and advisory services to small and medium-sized firms. He previously worked at Ameritech/Michigan Bell Telephone Co. in Detroit in a variety of management positions and at Ford Motor Company as a cost and program control analyst.

Southfield City Council approves third marijuana retail site

Southfield Inauguration Ceremonies

Daniel is currently a Southfield City Council member. He was elected in 2015 and is currently serving his second term. 

As of August 13, 2025, Daniel Brightwell did not have a website or any information online.

Daniel Brightwell

Daniel Brightwell is from Southfield, Michigan. He has a bachelor of arts in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and a master of business administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gregory Keeler has experience in electrical engineering, technology, and business ownership.

As of August 13, 2025, Gregory Keeler’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports stronger tenant protections, including rent control, to ensure affordable housing and prevent displacement.

Supports revising city ordinances, including zoning laws and housing policies, to align with current resident needs and community diversity.

Supports revising city ordinances, including zoning laws and housing policies.

- Supports stronger tenant protections, including rent control, to ensure affordable housing and prevent displacement.
- Supports revising city ordinances, including zoning laws and housing policies.

Supports policies and funding aimed at reducing gun violence.

- Supports policies and funding aimed at reducing gun violence.

As a city council member, established a table for people with disabilities to voice concerns and collaborate on policies.

Wants to ensure individuals with disabilities can voice concerns and collaborate on policies.

Supports creating more accessible public meetings, including virtual access.

Supports investing in upgrades to the senior community center to make it a hub for socialization, health, and recreation.

Supports collaborating with local schools to allow residents, especially seniors, to use school facilities for events, classes, and social activities.

Believes in collaborating with schools, local organizations, and residents to create policies that reflect shared values of compassion, equity, and justice.

Believes in collaborating with schools, local organizations, and residents to create policies that reflect shared values.

Supports building an indoor, year-round swimming pool with facilities for community use and accessibility features for children and people with disabilities.

- Wants to ensure individuals with disabilities can voice concerns and collaborate on policies.
- Supports creating more accessible public meetings, including virtual access.
- Supports investing in upgrades to the senior community center to make it a hub for socialization, health, and recreation.
- Supports collaborating with local schools to allow residents, especially seniors, to use school facilities for events, classes, and social activities.
- Believes in collaborating with schools, local organizations, and residents to create policies that reflect shared values.
- Supports building an indoor, year-round swimming pool with facilities for community use and accessibility features for children and people with disabilities.

Supports partnering with residents to address septic tank and sewer issues.

- Supports partnering with residents to address septic tank and sewer issues.

Gregory Keeler

Stacy Jackson has lived in Southfield for 20 years. She serves as president of Beechwood Acres Homeowners' Association.

As of August 13, 2025, Stacy Jackson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports housing rights and fair taxation for homeowners and renters.

- Supports housing rights and fair taxation for homeowners and renters.

Supports expanding community resources, such as a swimming pool and senior center, to enhance residents' quality of life.

Supports expanding community resources, such as a swimming pool and senior center.

Supports revitalizing downtown to create a vibrant, walkable area with a movie theater and a thriving center for business, culture, and community engagement.

- Supports expanding community resources, such as a swimming pool and senior center.
- Supports revitalizing downtown to create a vibrant, walkable area with a movie theater and a thriving center for business, culture, and community engagement.

Supports strengthening infrastructure to improve drainage systems and public spaces.

- Supports strengthening infrastructure to improve drainage systems and public spaces.

Stacy Jackson

Stacy Jackson is a proud daughter of Detroit and a dedicated woman of Southfield. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in instructional technology, both from Wayne State University. She lives with her family in Southfield.

Stacy's campaign for Southfield City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

As of August 13, 2025, Stacy Jackson did not have a website or any information online.

Stacy Jackson is from Detroit, Michigan. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in instructional technology, both from Wayne State University. She lives in Southfield, Michigan.

Supports fair taxation that benefits both homeowners and renters.

Supports strengthening infrastructure to ensure drainage systems and public spaces meet the needs of the growing community.

Plans to strengthen infrastructure to improve drainage systems and public spaces.

Yolanda C. Haynes | City of Southfield

Yolanda attended Jackson State University and completed the Michigan Political Leadership Program in 2001. She has served as chair of Southfield Youth Assistance, president of the Friends of the Southfield Public Library since 2008, and as a director on the board of the Friends of the Michigan Library. She also held a volunteer leadership role with the Greater Detroit National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She lives in Southfield with her husband and their nine children.

Yolanda worked as a business developer for the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Yolanda Haynes Appointed to Southfield City Council - Oakland ...

Yolanda was appointed to the Southfield City Council in December 2023 to replace Linnie Taylor. Her current term expires in November 2025.

As of August 13, 2025, Yolanda C. Haynes did not have a website or any information online.

Yolanda C. Haynes

Yolanda C. Haynes is currently a Southfield City Council member. She was appointed in December 2023 to fill the seat vacated by former Councilwoman Linnie Taylor and will complete the term until November 2025. Haynes has been actively involved in the election process, serving as both an Election Inspector and Chair. 

As of August 13, 2025, Yolanda C. Haynes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Yolanda C. Haynes is a longtime Southfield resident. She attended Jackson State University and is a 2001 Michigan Political Leadership Program Alumni. She is the mother of nine children and has been married for 39 years to Houston Haynes III.

Yolanda is a business developer at the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce, where she connected and built relationships with many businesses in the community. She hosted and led networking events that created long-term membership. She also presented and spoke at various programs, bridging the gap between large and small businesses of diverse cultures and industries. Additionally, she worked as a consultant, speaker, teacher, and entrepreneur.

Yolanda C. Haynes's campaign for Southfield City Council Member is her first entry into politics. She was appointed to the Southfield City Council on December 18, 2023, to fill the seat vacated by former Councilwoman Linnie Taylor. She will complete the term until November 2025.

Serves on the Southfield Police Department Citizen's Advisory Board.

- 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.