Pontiac City Council November 2 Election Candidate Guide - WDET ...

William Parker has an associate's degree in business management from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and a bachelor's and master's degree in biblical studies from Destiny Christian University.

William is a senior pastor for New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church and a veteran.

District 5 William Parker

William is currently a councilman representing Pontiac City Council District 5. He was elected in November 2021 and is serving his first four-year term.

As of June 5, 2025, William Parker, Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Healthcare

Believes lack of trust in city leadership is the most important issue, saying "All other issues are intertwined with this issue to some extent."

Aims to connect seniors with essential resources such as transportation, housing, and healthcare.

Aims to connect seniors and veterans with essential resources such as transportation, housing, and healthcare.

- Believes lack of trust in city leadership is the most important issue, saying "All other issues are intertwined with this issue to some extent."
- Aims to connect seniors and veterans with essential resources such as transportation, housing, and healthcare.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

Transportation & Infrastructure

Facebook

William Parker, Jr.

As of June 10, 2025, William Parker, Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes the Phoenix Center and Ottawa Towers complex issue has been a "long-standing thorn" for Pontiac citizens, saying it "lacks resolution."

Believes the most important issue facing Pontiac is public safety and supports infrastructure improvements to ensure families, seniors, and children feel safe.

Believes there is a lack of transparency in the city and "excessive hiring of unqualified candidates to executive-controlled offices."

- Believes lack of trust in city leadership is the most important issue, saying "All other issues are intertwined with this issue to some extent."

Believes Pontiac needs infrastructure that will make families, especially seniors and small children, feel safe in their community.

William Parker, Jr. is currently a Councilman representing City Council District Five. He was elected in November 2021 and is serving his first four-year term, which expires on January 1, 2026.

As of June 10, 2025, William Parker, Jr. did not have a website or any information online.

William Parker Jr - Pontiac Oral History Project

William is from Pontiac, Michigan. He attended Community College of the Air Force, where he received an associate degree in science. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in arts from Destiny Christian University. He lives with his three children. He attends New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church.

William Parker, Jr. is currently Councilman representing City Council District Five. He was elected in November 2021 to a four-year term expiring January 1, 2026, and is serving his first term.

Believes the most important issue is the "lack of trust, belief and respect of city leadership."

Believes the most important issue facing Pontiac is public safety and supports infrastructure improvements to make families, seniors, and children feel safe.

As of June 5, 2025, William Parker, Jr. did not have a website or any information online.

Believes in the need for a long-term plan for maintaining city streets and sewers.

William is from Pontiac, Michigan. He attended the Community College of the Air Force and received an associate of science degree. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Destiny Christian University. He lives with his three children. He attends New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church.

William Parker Jr. is the Senior Pastor at New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church, where he leads worship services and oversees church operations.

William Parker, Jr. is currently a member of the Pontiac City Council representing District Five. He was elected in November 2021 to a four-year term expiring on January 1, 2026.

Believes the most important issue facing Pontiac is public safety and wants to improve infrastructure to make families, seniors, and children feel safe.

Believes there is a lack of transparency in the city and an "excessive hiring of unqualified candidates to executive-controlled offices."

William is a Senior Pastor. He works at New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church, where he leads worship services and manages church programs. He oversees a church food bank program that has provided food to the community for over 15 years. He personally worked with local schools to distribute food during the pandemic and opened a food bank to meet community needs. Information on previous professional roles is not available at this time.

William Parker, Jr. is currently a City Council Member representing District Five in Pontiac. He was elected in November 2021 and is serving his first term, a four-year term expiring on January 1, 2026.

Believes there is a lack of transparency in the city and that unqualified candidates are being hired for executive-controlled offices.

Advocates for a long-term plan for maintaining city streets and sewers.

Buket Urgen

Adrian Austin is from Pontiac. He lives with his wife, Melaine Austin, and two daughters, Shaniya and Alaura, in Pontiac.

Adrian is a bargaining representative at the United Auto Workers union. 

Adrian is currently serving as precinct delegate for Precinct 11 in District 5 of Pontiac, having been elected to two terms.

Supports establishing programs and initiatives to build and refine skills for individuals, businesses, and communities in Pontiac.

Supports workforce development to create jobs and attract investments.

- Supports workforce development to create jobs and attract investments.

As of June 5, 2025, Adrian Austin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Instagram

Adrian Austin

Adrian is from Pontiac. He graduated from Pontiac Northern High School in 2003. He has been a citizen of Pontiac for 40 years, and his lineage has been part of the fabric of Pontiac for over 70 years. Adrian lives with his wife, Melaine Austin, and two daughters, Shaniya and Alaura, in Pontiac, where they purchased a home in 2023. He is 100% invested in Pontiac — this is his home.

Adrian Austin is a bargaining representative at the United Auto Workers union. He served as the UAW Bargaining Representative negotiating the 2023–2027 Master Labor Agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. He previously worked on assignment with the UAW International CAP (Citizenship & Legislation) and the UAW Region 1 CAP Department during the 2024 Presidential Election.

Adrian Austin is running for Pontiac City Council at-large. He is currently serving as Precinct Delegate for Precinct 11 in District 5 of Pontiac, Michigan, having been elected to two terms.

As of June 10, 2025, Adrian Austin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Election Night Reporting

Marcus Bowman ran for Pontiac City Council District 1 in 2021 but he did not win.

As of June 5, 2025, Marcus Bowman did not have a website or any information online.

Marcus Bowman

As of June 10, 2025, Marcus Bowman did not have a website or any information online.

Believes poverty is the most important issue facing Pontiac, noting that "30% of our residents live in poverty" despite being in "one of the richest counties in America."

Believes poverty is the most important issue facing Pontiac, citing that "30% of our residents live in poverty."

Believes the current mayoral administration lacks a solid plan for youth and recreation.

August primary ballots set for a handful of city offices in Oakland ...

Sennel K. Threlkeld is from Pontiac. He is married and has four sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren.

Sennel K. Threlkeld is a deputy at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, currently serving in Pontiac. 

Sennel K. Threlkeld’s campaign for Pontiac’s new at-large City Council seat is his first entry into politics.

Supports streamlining business licensing, providing resources for entrepreneurs, and advocating for fair wages to retain talent.

Supports partnering with local employers, trade schools, and nonprofits to create internships, apprenticeships, and skill-development workshops.

- Supports streamlining business licensing, providing resources for entrepreneurs, and advocating for fair wages to retain talent.
- Supports partnering with local employers, trade schools, and nonprofits to create internships, apprenticeships, and skill-development workshops.

Supports demolishing or rehabilitating abandoned properties, public art projects, and community-led clean-up days.

Supports affordable housing and balanced investment in infrastructure across all wards.

- Supports demolishing or rehabilitating abandoned properties, public art projects, and community-led clean-up days.
- Supports affordable housing and balanced investment in infrastructure across all wards.

Supports strengthening community policing by facilitating regular forums between law enforcement and residents, launching neighborhood watch programs, and promoting advanced officer training.

Supports expanding youth engagement programs, conflict-resolution initiatives, and support services that address the root causes of crime.

- Supports strengthening community policing by facilitating regular forums between law enforcement and residents, launching neighborhood watch programs, and promoting advanced officer training.
- Supports expanding youth engagement programs, conflict-resolution initiatives, and support services that address the root causes of crime.

As of June 5, 2025, Sennel K. Threlkeld’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports providing short-term courses in digital literacy, financial planning, and soft skills for youth and seniors to adapt to changing job markets and everyday life challenges.

Supports creating mentorship programs that pair seniors with youth.

Supports transparency by publishing budgets, meeting agendas, and project updates online and hosting frequent town halls.

Supports providing grants, training, and resources to neighborhood groups, youth organizations, and grassroots efforts.

- Supports providing short-term courses in digital literacy, financial planning, and soft skills for youth and seniors to adapt to changing job markets and everyday life challenges.
- Supports creating mentorship programs that pair seniors with youth.
- Supports transparency by publishing budgets, meeting agendas, and project updates online and hosting frequent town halls.
- Supports providing grants, training, and resources to neighborhood groups, youth organizations, and grassroots efforts.

Sennel K. Threlkeld

As of June 10, 2025, Sennel K. Threlkeld’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sennel K. Threlkeld is from Pontiac. Born and raised on Pontiac’s east side, his family’s history spans seven proud generations dedicated to this community. For over two decades, he has proudly served Pontiac, first as a dedicated member of the Pontiac Police Department and later as part of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Today, he works as an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy in Pontiac. He draws his greatest inspiration from his family—his wife, their four sons, daughter, and six incredible grandchildren—and credits his parents, Sherman Threlkeld and Janet Gracey, for instilling in him the values of compassion, hard work, and neighbors supporting one another through good times and tough moments alike.

Sennel K. Threlkeld is a deputy at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, currently serving in Pontiac. He has served the city for over two decades, first as a member of the Pontiac Police Department and later with the sheriff’s office. As a crime scene investigator, he solved major cases and supported local families through difficult investigations. In his law enforcement career, he led community policing initiatives to clean up neighborhoods, fight blight, support essential resources for homeless residents, and mentor youth in challenging situations.

Supports fostering economic growth by streamlining licensing for new businesses, providing resources for entrepreneurs, and championing fair-wage opportunities.

Supports investing in prevention by expanding youth engagement programs, conflict-resolution initiatives, and support services that address the root causes of crime.

As a city council member, supported resources for homeless residents and youth mentorship programs.

- 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.