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 ...

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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. 

2025 Michigan General Election

2025 Michigan Primary Election

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.

Economy

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.

Housing & Urban Development

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."

Public Safety

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

Healthcare

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.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

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.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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."

Education

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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.

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

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

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- 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.