Staff Directory • Barbara A. Ziarko

Barbara Ziarko has lived in Sterling Heights since 1977. She has an associate's degree from Macomb Community College. She is a member of the Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library and volunteers for The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), the Pope Francis Center in Detroit, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. Barbara married Tom Ziarko in 1977, and they were married until his passing in 2014.

Barbara has been a member of the Sterling Heights City Council since 2001.

Sterling Heights City Council race attracts 15 candidates – Macomb ...

Barbara is a retired bookkeeper for the St. Blase Catholic Church.

As of August 13, 2025, Barbara A. Ziarko did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Housing & Urban Development

Believes public safety staffing will be a challenge due to a "limited number of applicants."

- Believes public safety staffing will be a challenge due to a "limited number of applicants."

Public Safety

Healthcare

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

- Supports the redevelopment of Lakeside.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Barbara A. Ziarko

James Auchincloss

Buket Urgen

Daniel has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Ferris State University. He and his wife are parents to three grown children and have four grandchildren. He has lived in Sterling Heights for 33 years.

Daniel is a retired automotive engineer. 

Danie’s campaign for Sterling Heights city council member is his first entry into politics. 

Aims to promote and strive toward freedom from debt.

- Aims to promote and strive toward freedom from debt.

Supports respecting the voice of all property owners, including matters related to easements.

- Supports respecting the voice of all property owners, including matters related to easements.

Supports protecting children from "social construct ideologies."

- Supports protecting children from "social construct ideologies."

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

Supports term limits for both city council members and the mayor.

- Supports term limits for both city council members and the mayor.

Facebook

Daniel Acciacca

Deanna Koski has an associate degree as a legal assistant from Macomb Community College. Deanna is married to her husband, Dennis. They have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and 5 grandchildren.


Sterling Heights City Council November 2 Election Candidate Guide ...

Deanna is retired. She spent over 50 years working in the real estate and mortgage industry. She started as a mortgage counselor and loan closer at a savings and loan institution. Later, she became a real estate broker and closing broker, and worked as a title insurance escrow officer. 

Deanna is a current member of the Sterling Heights City Council, first elected in 1989 and currently seeking her tenth term.

Supports creating a partnership between the city, schools, manufacturing companies, and unions to develop internships and job training for skilled trades and careers in Sterling Heights.

- Supports creating a partnership between the city, schools, manufacturing companies, and unions to develop internships and job training for skilled trades and careers in Sterling Heights.

Plans to continue collaborating with the Lakeside Mall owner/developer to provide input, ideas, and suggestions for property development.

Plans to continue collaborating with the Lakeside Mall owner to provide input, ideas, and suggestions for property development.

- Plans to continue collaborating with the Lakeside Mall owner to provide input, ideas, and suggestions for property development.

Supports reinstating the Police K-9 program and helped the Fire Department establish an EMS ambulance transport service for Sterling Heights residents.

Supports reinstating the Police K-9 program.

Helped the Fire Department establish an emergency medical services (EMS) ambulance transport service for Sterling Heights residents.

Said, "I would agree to revisit this issue and gather community input, area impact and benefits to the residents/business community.  Taking into consideration state legislative requirements, financial benefit/costs and all risks to the city and community.”

Agrees to gather community input and study the benefits, costs, and risks of marijuana on the community.

- Supports reinstating the Police K-9 program.
- Helped the Fire Department establish an emergency medical services (EMS) ambulance transport service for Sterling Heights residents.
- Agrees to gather community input and study the benefits, costs, and risks of marijuana on the community.

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

Supports providing proper city staffing levels to meet the service needs of residents and the business community.

- Supports providing proper city staffing levels to meet the service needs of residents and the business community.

Wants to redevelop the North Van Dyke corridor and Lakeside Mall, including road and infrastructure improvements to assist in the area redesign.

Wants to redevelop the North Van Dyke corridor and Lakeside Mall, including road and infrastructure improvements.

- Wants to redevelop the North Van Dyke corridor and Lakeside Mall, including road and infrastructure improvements.

LinkedIn

Deanna Koski

Staff Directory • Henry Yanez

Henry Yanez - Wikipedia

Henry Yanez is from Madison Heights, Michigan. He has an Associate of Science degree in fire science and firefighting from Oakland Community College. He lives with his wife, Jane, in Sterling Heights. They have four children and three grandchildren.

Ex-state Rep. Henry Yanez appointed to Sterling Heights City Council

Prior to his legislative work, he worked as a firefighter and paramedic and started his career as a machine tool electrician, during which he was a member of the United Auto Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the International Association of Firefighters. He holds degrees in Fire Science and General Studies from Oakland Community College.

Henry is a city council member for the City of Sterling Heights. He has served on the council since 2019. Before joining the council, he served three two-year terms in the Michigan House of Representatives.  In 2010, Yanez ran for the U.S. House of Representatives but did not win.

Supports collective bargaining rights for workers.

Supports finding diverse revenue streams and grants to keep taxes low.

Believes in using tax dollars "as efficiently as possible."

- Supports collective bargaining rights for workers.
- Supports finding diverse revenue streams and grants to keep taxes low.
- Believes in using tax dollars "as efficiently as possible."

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

Opposes "attacks on teachers, cops, firefighters, and emergency responders who serve our community."

- Opposes "attacks on teachers, cops, firefighters, and emergency responders who serve our community."
- Lists public safety as his top priority.

Supports access to affordable healthcare.

- Supports access to affordable healthcare.

Wants to "maintain the quality of our neighborhoods."

Prioritizes the improvement of city services.

- Wants to "maintain the quality of our neighborhoods."
- Prioritizes the improvement of city services.

Instagram

Henry Yanez

Macomb County general election preview: Key contests set after ...

Jackie Ryan grew up in Macomb County, Michigan. She holds degrees in accounting and business. She has lived in Sterling Heights for more than 24 years. Ryan is a mother and grandmother.

Candidates duke it out for central Macomb County Commission ...

Jackie Ryan is a small business owner. She is self-employed in Sterling Heights. She previously served as deputy Macomb County clerk, a position she held until 2018.

Jackie Ryan - Ballotpedia

Jackie has previously run for elected positions such as Macomb County clerk and Michigan House of Representatives but did not win.

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

Supports upholding the Constitution and preserving individual freedoms.

Supports upholding the Constitution and protecting individual freedoms.

- Supports upholding the Constitution and protecting individual freedoms.

Promises to provide "Reliable Quality Trustworthy Service" without incurring debt to residents.

- Promises to provide "Reliable Quality Trustworthy Service" without incurring debt to residents.

Twitter

Jackie Ryan

Liz Sierawski is a resident of Sterling Heights, Michigan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Michigan State University. She and her husband, District Court Judge Steven Sierawski have four sons.

Liz is the director of nursing at Beaumont Health Care, where she leads the nursing staff and oversees patient care operations. 

Liz is currently a member of the Sterling Heights City Council. She is finishing her second term and previously served on the Macomb County Charter Commission.

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

Supports allowing residents to vote on whether to allow marijuana businesses in the city.

- Supports allowing residents to vote on whether to allow marijuana businesses in the city.

Plans to ensure public services are maintained, including well-maintained public works and parks.

- Plans to ensure public services are maintained, including well-maintained public works and parks.

Liz Sierawski

Staff Directory • Maria G. Schmidt

She graduated from Bishop Foley High School and attended Southeast Oakland Vocational School and Oakland Community College. 

Maria is a Voc-Ed Paraprofessional in the Health Science program at Warren Consolidated Schools, where she works full time. She has been in the medical field for more than 30 years, including over 25 years as a medical assistant and dialysis technician. 

State political activist seeks to remove Sterling Heights ...

Maria G. Schmidt is currently a member of the Sterling Heights City Council. She has held that office since February of 2003. 

Said, "I make decisions based on being fiscally responsible, and what is in the best interest of the community as a whole, not my personal interest."

- Said, "I make decisions based on being fiscally responsible, and what is in the best interest of the community as a whole, not my personal interest."

As of August 13, 2025, Maria G. Schmidt did not have a website or any information online.

Believes the most important issue facing Sterling Heights is "the sustainability of services while keeping taxes low."

- Believes the most important issue facing Sterling Heights is "the sustainability of services while keeping taxes low."

Maria G. Schmidt

Michael V. Radtke, Jr. | MA/MSc in International and World History

Michael Radtke has a bachelor's degree in history and political science from the University of Michigan and graduate degrees from Columbia University and the Loncon School of Economics.

Before taking public office, Michael worked as a community organizer, public relations consultant, and political activist. 

Michael is a current city council member for Sterling Heights. He is serving his third term.

Believes encouraging young families to move to Sterling Heights is crucial for expanding the tax base and supporting city services.

Opposes raising the City Manager’s pay by nearly $38,000 a year.

- Believes encouraging young families to move to Sterling Heights is crucial for expanding the tax base and supporting city services.
- Opposes raising the City Manager’s pay by nearly $38,000 a year.

As a city council member, fought to hire 4 more code enforcement officers to address blight.

As a city council member, encouraged hiring 4 more code enforcement officers to address decayed properties.

- As a city council member, encouraged hiring 4 more code enforcement officers to address decayed properties.
- Wants to restrict the use of fireworks.

Promises to advocate strongly for increased police and fire protection.

As a city council member, voted to hire 10 more firefighters to staff the expanded city ambulance fleet.

Advocated for the Safe Streets millage and voted to hire more firefighters, police officers, and social work case managers.

Advocated for the Safe Streets tax and voted to hire more firefighters, police officers, and social work case managers.

Advocates for increasing the number of police officers in Sterling Heights.

- Promises to advocate strongly for increased police and fire protection.
- As a city council member, voted to hire 10 more firefighters to staff the expanded city ambulance fleet.
- Advocated for the Safe Streets tax and voted to hire more firefighters, police officers, and social work case managers.
- Advocates for increasing the number of police officers in Sterling Heights.

Supports using firefighters as vaccine administrators.

- Supports using firefighters as vaccine administrators.

Advocated for a southern recreation center for youth.

As a city council member, sponsored a budget amendment allowing absentee ballots to be returned postage-free.

Supports creating more trails and linking local parks to the Iron-Belle Trail.

Advocated for additional non-motorized paths and parks in the community.

Advocated for additional pedestrian paths and parks in the community.

Supports the development of trails and parks.

As a city council member, helped transform vacant walls and unused areas into public spaces.

Supports public art, saying it "speaks to the city’s aspirations" and "brightens up residents’ days."

Supports access to public services without discrimination.

Supports the creation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

- Advocated for a southern recreation center for youth.
- As a city council member, sponsored a budget amendment allowing absentee ballots to be returned postage-free.
- Supports creating more trails and linking local parks to the Iron-Belle Trail.
- Advocated for additional pedestrian paths and parks in the community.
- Supports the development of trails and parks.
- As a city council member, helped transform vacant walls and unused areas into public spaces.
- Supports public art, saying it "speaks to the city’s aspirations" and "brightens up residents’ days."
- Supports the LGBTQ+ community.
- Supports access to public services without discrimination.
- Supports the creation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Advocated for an urban tree reforestation initiative.

- Advocated for an urban tree reforestation initiative.

Plans to make the city an attractive and safe place to live, work, and play for all residents.

Advocates for expanding and improving the sidewalk replacement plan.

Supports expanding the sidewalk program to neighborhoods without sidewalks, especially near schools, to enhance safety and walkability.

Supports expanding the sidewalk program to neighborhoods without sidewalks, especially near schools, to improve safety and walkability.

- Plans to make the city an attractive and safe place to live, work, and play for all residents.
- Advocates for expanding and improving the sidewalk replacement plan.
- Supports expanding the sidewalk program to neighborhoods without sidewalks, especially near schools, to improve safety and walkability.

Michael V. Radtke Jr.

Moira Smith has a bachelor's degtee from Western Michigan University.

Moira was previously elected as a precinct delegate for the Republican Party. She ran for the Sterling Heights City Council in 2021 but did not win. 

Moira is retired. Before retirement, she worked as a Social Security disability investigator. 

Opposes urbanization of Sterling Heights.

Believes the council spends money on "whims" and funds it through increased taxes and selling bonds without a repayment plan.

Believes the current council spends money on "whims" and funds it through increased taxes and selling bonds without a repayment plan.

- Opposes urbanization of Sterling Heights.
- Believes the current council spends money on "whims" and funds it through increased taxes and selling bonds without a repayment plan.

Said, "I will represent and be the voice of the forgotten homeowner and taxpayer."

Opposes giving zoning and tax breaks to wealthy out-of-town developers.

- Said, "I will represent and be the voice of the forgotten homeowner and taxpayer."
- Opposes giving zoning and tax breaks to wealthy out-of-town developers.
- Opposes high-density housing.

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

Opposes government involvement in the medical business and entertainment.

- Opposes government involvement in the medical business and entertainment.

Moira Smith

Rick McKiddy has a master's degree in business from Wayne State University.

Rick is a real estate broker with Agora Realty Group. 

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

Rick McKiddy

Voters in Sterling Heights to decide governor, legislators, judges

Robert Mijac is from Sterling Heights. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in business administration in finance from Wayne State University. He lives with his wife, Maria, and their 16-year-old son, Filip, in Sterling Heights.

Robert is the owner of Mass Mailing, LLC and Finch Properties. 

Robert is a former Macomb County Commissioner and served from 1995 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2020. 

Supports maintaining a balanced budget and prioritizing road and sewer infrastructure projects.

- Supports maintaining a balanced budget.

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

Supports expanding and protecting voter rights.

- Supports expanding and protecting voter rights.

Supports protecting senior citizens, including services at Martha T. Berry County Hospital and veterans services.

- Supports protecting senior citizens, including services at Martha T. Berry County Hospital and veterans services.

Plans to prioritize road and sewer infrastructure projects.

- Plans to prioritize road and sewer infrastructure projects.

Robert Mijac

Teri Brinker was born and raised in Sterling Heights.

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

Teri Brinker

- 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.

Sterling Heights City Council Member

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Sterling Heights City Council Member

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