Greimel, Riley advance to November in race for Pontiac mayor

Pontiac — Tim Greimel and Alexandria Riley were the top two finishers in the Pontiac mayoral primary Tuesday setting up a showdown between them in November's general election.

Greimel, a well-known former Oakland County commissioner and ex-Michigan House minority leader, led all finishers with 56% of total votes cast, with 100% of votes counted. Riley, the city's ex-chief development officer, was second with 23% of the total votes. The county reported 13.67% of the city's registered voters turned out to cast 9,405 votes in the primary.

"We've still got about three months to go (until the November election) and are not taking anything for granted," said Greimel, adding the results "indicate Pontiac residents are very eager for positive change in the community."

Mayor Deirdre Waterman, who made history seven years ago as the city's first female mayor, was tossed from the ballot for campaign finance issues and ran as a write in-candidate. Any votes for her were among 12% of the total write-in votes cast and not enough to be put on the November ballot.

Riley told The Detroit News on Wednesday that she accomplished her goal of making it to the November ballot. 

“Certainly it (the general election) will still be an uphill battle. Anytime you are a grassroots candidate and going against an established candidate," she said. "But from the (primary) results we noticed the voters in Pontiac are desperately desiring change."

Waterman faced tough competition from four candidates, including Greimel and Riley, who challenged Waterman in 2017. Attorney Jeremy Bowie and grant writer Wanda Denise Coates received 5% and 4% of the vote, respectfully.

But the incumbent mayor said Wednesday she might not be giving up just yet.

“I’m talking to the advisors, nothing's off the table right now," Waterman told reporters after an event in Pontiac in response to questions over whether she'd pursue another write-in bid this fall. "Whatever it takes to continue my messaging, and my agenda.”

Waterman was kept off the primary ballot for failing to file campaign finance reports on time. State police are investigating those filings, which included a signed affidavit on April 13 asserting Waterman had no outstanding fees and reports. 

Under state elections law, candidates determined to file false or inaccurate statements on his or her affidavit must have their name excluded from the election ballot and they are at risk of a felony punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and five years in prison.

Waterman asked for continued support from residents "to continue the substantial progress" the city has made under her two terms as mayor. 

Waterman first took office in 2014, inheriting a city bleeding red ink and grappling with massive employee layoffs by state-appointed emergency managers who sold off city properties, including the Pontiac Silverdome, to stave off bankruptcy.

Waterman noted the arrival of new businesses in the past two years, including Amazon, United Wholesale Mortgage, Henry Ford Health System, and American House, and a couple dozen others that have centralized operations in the city, resulting in the creation of 8,000 jobs, she said. 

She touted progress with neighborhood blight removal and youth recreation and enrichment programs. Waterman also noted her efforts to restore health care benefits for city retirees, which had been cut in 2013 while the city was under emergency management, through a plan mediated by Waterman's team and approved by the Internal Revenue Services. 

Greimel said he wants to improve basic city services, including fixing the roads and promptly plowing snow, establishing a robust youth recreation program, and establishing job training and job placement programs to ensure that more Pontiac residents get hired.

Riley has promoted her effort as a "people-powered campaign" focused on economic and community development for Pontiac. 

mmartindale@detroitnews.com

Staff writer Hani Barghouthi contributed