Kenson Siver lives with his husband in the Magnolia neighborhood. He has lived in Southfield for 58 years. He is a founding member of the Southfield Martin Luther King Task Force, and has participated in organizations such as the South Oakland NAACP, the Southfield Parks & Garden Club, and a volunteered for the Southfield Public Schools.

Before his election to office, he spent his professional life in Southfield Public Schools, starting as a teacher in 1967 and retiring in 2011 as the deputy superintendent.

Kenson is the current mayor of Southfield. He has been mayor since 2015. He previously served as a City Council member for 14 years. 

As of June 5, 2025, Kenson J. Siver’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Supports demolishing blighted homes and rehabilitating others to create new housing options.

Supports demolishing neglected homes and fixing others to create new housing options.

Supports converting the former John Grace School into subsidized senior apartments and recently supported housing for veterans and substance abuse recovery.

Supports converting the former John Grace School into subsidized senior apartments.

Supports the redevelopment of Northland Mall into a "city-with-in-a city" to include mixed-use housing, neighborhood retail, recreation, restaurants, and green space.

Supports the redevelopment of Northland Mall into a "city-within-a-city" to include mixed-use housing, neighborhood retail, recreation, restaurants, and green space.

Supported additional housing for veterans and substance abuse recovery.

- Supports demolishing neglected homes and fixing others to create new housing options.
- Supports converting the former John Grace School into subsidized senior apartments.
- Supports the redevelopment of Northland Mall into a "city-within-a-city" to include mixed-use housing, neighborhood retail, recreation, restaurants, and green space.
- Supported additional housing for veterans and substance abuse recovery.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports prioritizing public safety by equipping and training police and fire departments, ensuring prompt, professional response with modern equipment.

Supports prioritizing public safety by equipping and training police and fire departments.

- Supports prioritizing public safety by equipping and training police and fire departments.

Public Safety

Supports public health initiatives such as vaccination clinics and health inspections.

- Supports public health initiatives such as vaccination clinics and health inspections.

Healthcare

Plans to develop public spaces that reflect the city pride, attractiveness, and sense of community.

Supports creating "complete streets" by adding sidewalks, pathways, benches, landscaping, and art to foster community and accessibility.

Plans to install more public art in the city.

- Supports creating "complete streets" by adding sidewalks, pathways, benches, landscaping, and art to foster community and accessibility.
- Plans to install more public art in the city.

Public Services

Invested millions in new water mains and over $30 million to eliminate combined storm and sanitary sewers.

- Invested millions in new water mains and over $30 million to eliminate combined storm and sanitary sewers.

Energy & the Environment

Plans to invest in neighborhood street improvements.

- Plans to invest in neighborhood street improvements.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Instagram

Kenson J. Siver

Kenson J. Siver is the Mayor of Southfield. He works at the City of Southfield and has been mayor since 2015. He previously served as a City Council member for 14 years. Before his election to office, he spent his professional life in the Southfield Public Schools, starting as a teacher in 1967 and retiring in 2011 as the Deputy Superintendent.

As of June 10, 2025, Kenson J. Siver’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of June 10, 2025, Kenson J. Siver did not have a website or any information online.

Kenson J. Siver is the Mayor of Southfield, Michigan. He has led the city since 2015, working with the City of Southfield to oversee municipal operations and community programs. Before becoming mayor, he served on the Southfield City Council from 2001 to 2015. Prior to his career in local government, Siver spent 44 years at Southfield Public Schools, starting in 1967 as a classroom teacher and retiring in 2011 as the Deputy Superintendent.

As of June 5, 2025, Kenson J. Siver did not have a website or any information online.

Kenson J. Siver is from Southfield, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University, and a master’s degree and a doctorate from Wayne State University. He has lived and worked in Southfield since 1967 and resides in the Magnolia Neighborhood.

Kenson J. Siver is the mayor of Southfield. He was sworn in as the city’s sixth mayor on November 16, 2015. Before his election, he spent more than four decades working in Southfield Public Schools. From 1967 to 1977, he taught English, journalism and American history at Thompson Junior High School. From 1977 to 1986, he split his time between teaching journalism at Southfield High School and serving as the district’s Community Relations Officer. In 1986, he was promoted to Director of Information Services, and in 2004 he became Deputy Superintendent of Schools, a position he held until his retirement in 2011.

Buket Urgen

Ryan Foster - Ballotpedia

Ryan Foster is from Southfield, Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University. He attends the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Ryan is a former U.S. Army Reserve service member. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2016 to 2019. He has experience as a policeman, teacher, and football coach.

Voters to decide local city councils, ballot proposals in Southfield

Ryan previously ran for election to the U. S. House to represent Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, but was disqualified from the Democratic primary. He also ran for Michigan State Senate District 7 in 2022 and Southfield City Council in 2023 and 2021, but he did not win. 

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

Twitter

Facebook

Youtube

Ryan Foster

Ryan is a former U.S. Army Reserve service member. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2016 to 2019. He has worked in transportation and policing roles.

Ryan Foster’s campaign for Southfield Mayor is his third run for public office. He previously ran for election to the U. S. House to represent Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, but was disqualified from the Democratic primary scheduled on August 6, 2024. He also ran in the Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 7 in 2022 and was defeated by incumbent Jeremy Moss on August 2, 2022.

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

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

Two vie for Southfield mayor, face empty Northland mall

Sylvia Jordan has a bachelor’s degree in urban development from Michigan State University. She lives with her husband, Larry Jordan, in Southfield, where she has lived for 25 years. She attends Family Victory Baptist Church.

Sylvia is an administrator at Victory Learning Center & Children’s Prep Academy, where she manages daily operations at the early childhood education facility. Before moving into education administration, Jordan worked as an investigator and consultant for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as a civil rights and equal opportunity consultant to the U.S. Army Tank Command. She also co-hosted the television program “Wisdom for Living” and has authored seven books.

Southfield City Council President Announces Entry Into Race For ...

LinkedIn

Sylvia served on the Southfield City Council from 1997 to 2015, including 12 years as council president and vice president. She previously ran for Southfield mayor in  2009 and 2015 but did not win. 

Supports prioritizing city contracts to small, local, and minority-owned businesses and offering workshops, mentorship, and business incubator programs to help entrepreneurs.

Supports cutting "unnecessary red tape" to make it easier to open and grow a business in Southfield.

Supports partnering with local banks and credit unions to make small business funding more accessible.

Supports creating incentives for businesses to invest and reinvest in Southfield's business districts.

Believes that growing businesses will create more jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and increase city revenue, which will help lower taxes for residents while improving local services.

Believes the best way to ease the tax burden on residents is to grow the local economy by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

- Supports prioritizing city contracts to small, local, and minority-owned businesses and offering workshops, mentorship, and business incubator programs to help entrepreneurs.
- Supports cutting "unnecessary red tape" to make it easier to open and grow a business in Southfield.
- Supports partnering with local banks and credit unions to make small business funding more accessible.
- Supports creating incentives for businesses to invest and reinvest in Southfield's business districts.
- Believes that growing businesses will create more jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and increase city revenue, which will help lower taxes for residents while improving local services.
- Believes the best way to ease the tax burden on residents is to grow the local economy by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Plans to offer incentives for home repairs, first-time buyers, and property improvements to help residents invest in their homes.

- Plans to offer incentives for home repairs, first-time buyers, and property improvements to help residents invest in their homes.

Supports community policing initiatives and wants to ensure homeowners are aware of the program.

Believes in hiring police officers with strong communication and people skills to prevent incidents "what we have seen happen across the country doesn’t happen here."

- Supports community policing initiatives and wants to ensure homeowners are aware of the program.
- Believes in hiring police officers with strong communication and people skills to prevent incidents "what we have seen happen across the country doesn’t happen here."

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

Supports establishing a comprehensive community center in Southfield with amenities like a swimming pool, basketball courts, and fitness facilities.

Plans to support community improvement projects and encourage volunteer groups to enhance neighborhood entrances, maintain landscaping, and create inviting shared spaces.

Plans to support community improvement projects and encourage volunteer groups to improve neighborhood entrances, maintain landscaping, and create inviting shared spaces.

- Supports establishing a comprehensive community center in Southfield with amenities like a swimming pool, basketball courts, and fitness facilities.
- Plans to support community improvement projects and encourage volunteer groups to improve neighborhood entrances, maintain landscaping, and create inviting shared spaces.

Believes in maintaining good roads and attractive neighborhoods to attract new businesses and increase tax revenue.

- Believes in maintaining good roads and attractive neighborhoods to attract new businesses and increase tax revenue.

Supports after-school programs, mentorship opportunities, mental health resources, and career pathways.

Supports providing after-school programs, mentorship opportunities, mental health resources, and career pathways to all schools "regardless of zip code."

- Supports providing after-school programs, mentorship opportunities, mental health resources, and career pathways to all schools "regardless of zip code."

Sylvia Jordan

Sylvia is from Southfield, Michigan. She attended Detroit Cass Technical High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Development from Michigan State University, pursued graduate studies at Oakland University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate for her humanitarian and community engagement. She lives with her husband, Larry Jordan, in Southfield. She attends Family Victory Baptist Church.

Sylvia Jordan is the Administrator at Victory Learning Center & Children’s Prep Academy in Southfield, Michigan, where she manages daily operations at the early childhood education facility. She has served on the Southfield City Council since 1997 and spent more than 12 years as Council President and Vice President. Before moving into education administration, Jordan worked as an investigator and consultant for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as a civil rights and equal opportunity consultant to the U.S. Army Tank Command. She also co-hosted the television program “Wisdom for Living” and has authored seven books.

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

Said, "You don’t have any plans or see any reason to increase taxes?"Absolutely not."

- 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.

Southfield Mayor

Election results

Candidates (3)

Compare candidates