Sterling Heights Voters Require Public Votes for Council Vacancies
Voters also rejected a plan to raise the administrative purchasing cap from $5,000 to $50,000 in Tuesday's local election.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
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Sterling Heights voters approved a measure requiring public votes to fill City Council vacancies with more than two years remaining, passing 36,598 to 10,345. A separate proposal to raise the administrative purchasing cap from $5,000 to $50,000 was rejected 24,501 to 23,606.
Why it matters
The vacancy measure shifts filling of mid-term council seats from appointment toward direct voter decision, while the rejected purchasing proposal keeps council approval required for spending above $5,000. The results determine how future council vacancies and city purchases are handled.
The vacancy measure passed by a margin of roughly 26,000 votes, while the purchasing proposal was rejected by 895 votes. The special election for unexpired council terms with more than two years remaining has no date given in the source.
The players
Mike Webber
Incumbent Michigan state senator for the 9th District who lost his seat to Theresa Brooks.
Theresa Brooks
Troy city council member who won the 9th State Senate District race over incumbent Mike Webber.
Michael Radtke
Sterling Heights councilman who argued the $50,000 purchasing ceiling was too high and that monitoring spending is the council's job.
The details
Under the approved measure, future Sterling Heights council vacancies with more than two years left will be decided by public vote rather than solely by appointment. The rejected proposal would have let city administration make purchases up to $50,000 without council approval, an increase tied to the original charter cap adjusted for inflation.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Sterling Heights local ballot proposals and state elections were held.
January 2027: The 104th Michigan Legislature session begins.
Political Context
The purchasing proposal drew opposition on the grounds that council oversight of spending is its responsibility, a position that kept the $5,000 threshold intact. Supporters argued the higher cap would reduce paperwork for elected officials on lower-cost items.
Residents will vote directly on future council vacancies with more than two years remaining rather than leaving them solely to appointment. City purchases above $5,000 will continue to require council approval.
The takeaway
Local ballot measures can change how public offices are filled and how city money is spent, so checking proposals before election day affects outcomes directly. The narrow margin on the purchasing vote shows how close local decisions can be.
What happens next
The Michigan Legislature's 104th session begins in January 2027, when the newly elected state senators and representatives take office.
Further reading
For more on how local races are decided, see Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by West Bloomfield Beacon.
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