2025 Michigan General Election

Kermit Williams has a bachelor's degree in communications and theatre from Siena Heights University and a nonprofit management certificate from Oakland University. He is a board member for Pontiac Youth Assistance and High Place Community Development, and a founding member of Transform Pontiac now. 

Kermit is Co-Executive Director of Oakland Forward, where he works to expand access to jobs, education, and economic resources for Oakland County residents. Previously, he worked as a political director for Detroit Action.

Kermit has served three terms on the Pontiac City Council, including as city council president.

As of October 29, 2025, Kermit Williams’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

As a city council member, voted to restore employment benefits stripped by emergency management and ensured all eligible retirees received $400/month healthcare stipends.

- As a city council member, voted to restore employment benefits stripped by emergency management and ensured all eligible retirees received $400/month healthcare stipends.

Healthcare

As a city council member, spearheaded the youth recreation millage, restoring youth programming after a decade-long gap.

As a city council member, supported the youth recreation tax, restoring youth programming after a decade-long gap.

- As a city council member, supported the youth recreation tax, restoring youth programming after a decade-long gap.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

As a county commissioner, supported the largest transportation millage in Oakland County history, which connects Pontiac residents to the region.

As a city council member, supported the largest transportation property tax in Oakland County history to connect Pontiac residents to the region.

- As a city council member, supported the largest transportation property tax in Oakland County history to connect Pontiac residents to the region.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Ethics & Conduct

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Kermit Williams

James Auchincloss

Buket Urgen

District 7 Michael McGuinness

Mike McGuinness has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oakland University. He owns a historic home on Union Street, near Pontiac City Hall on the city’s Eastside.

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Mike recently served as the executive director for Oakland County's Historical Society and for the Berkley Downtown Development Authority. Before that, he was a community outreach coordinator for Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence.

Mike is currently a member of the Pontiac City Council. Prior to serving on the City Council, he was elected twice to the Pontiac School Board, where he served five years and was School Board President in 2020 and 2021. 

Believes in maximizing progress during economically stable years to prepare for future recessions.

Plans to grow the city's tax base and explore new revenue opportunities to protect essential services and invest in the city's future.

Plans to prioritize developing Pontiac's workforce by investing in job training, educational opportunities, and workforce development programs.

- Believes in maximizing progress during economically stable years to prepare for future recessions.
- Plans to grow the city's tax base and explore new revenue opportunities to protect essential services and invest in the city's future.
- Plans to prioritize developing Pontiac's workforce by investing in job training, educational opportunities, and workforce development programs.

Believes in expanding housing construction and renovation.

- Believes in expanding housing construction and renovation.

Believes in reducing crime and enhancing community policing.

Believes in reducing crime and better community policing.

- Believes in reducing crime and better community policing.

As of October 29, 2025, Mike McGuinness’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to increase access to healthcare, transportation, social activities, and affordable living options for seniors.

Supports enhancing community engagement by improving attendance at Pontiac's Arts Crawl, Juneteenth, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, and restoring Hispanic cultural celebrations and parades.

Supports increasing community engagement by improving attendance at Pontiac's Arts Crawl, Juneteenth, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, and restoring Hispanic cultural celebrations and parades.

Plans to install refreshed Welcome to Pontiac gateway signs at city entrances and expand public art and mural installations throughout the community.

Plans to lead the creation of a dedicated youth recreation center to provide a safe space for kids to engage in sports, arts, mentorship, and community activities.

Promises to improve the process for residents to report neighborhood issues.

- Plans to increase access to healthcare, transportation, social activities, and affordable living options for seniors.
- Supports increasing community engagement by improving attendance at Pontiac's Arts Crawl, Juneteenth, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, and restoring Hispanic cultural celebrations and parades.
- Plans to install refreshed Welcome to Pontiac gateway signs at city entrances and expand public art and mural installations throughout the community.
- Plans to lead the creation of a dedicated youth recreation center to provide a safe space for kids to engage in sports, arts, mentorship, and community activities.
- Promises to improve the process for residents to report neighborhood issues.

Plans to improve trash collection and add recycling services.

- Plans to improve trash collection and add recycling services.

Supports replacing burned-out neighborhood streetlights and damaged traffic signs more quickly.

- Supports replacing burned-out neighborhood streetlights and damaged traffic signs more quickly.

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Mike McGuinness

- A mayor’s job can be different in each city, but they usually make sure city laws are followed, help create and manage the city’s budget, appoint people to boards and committees, and oversee city services like police, fire departments, parks, and public transportation.
- The mayor works with the city council and sometimes helps make decisions by voting.
- They may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. 
- They are elected to a two- or four-year term, depending on the city.

The highest elected official at the city level.

Pontiac Mayor

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