By: Andy Kozlowski | Madison-Park News | Published November 5, 2025
HAZEL PARK/MADISON HEIGHTS — Residents in Madison Heights and Hazel Park each had big decisions to make on Election Day Nov. 4, deciding the next mayor of each town. Madison Heights voters also decided several contested council seats.
Hazel Park
While Luke Londo and Alissa Sullivan were unopposed in their bid for reelection to the Hazel Park City Council, the next mayor was a contested race between the incumbent Mike Webb and the challenger Kristy Cales, a former board trustee for the Hazel Park Public Schools district.
Here, Webb defended his seat, securing another four-year term. Webb received 66.93% of the vote (1,459 votes) while Cales received 32.75% (714 votes). There were seven unassigned write-in votes, and zero rejected write-ins.
While they were unopposed running for reelection to the City Council, Sullivan was the top performer that night, taking 52.84% (1,658 votes), while Londo took 45.89% (1,440 votes). Both were elected to a four-year term.
There were also 40 unassigned write-ins for the council, and zero rejected write-ins.
Madison Heights
In Madison Heights, Corey Haines prevailed in his bid for a two-year term as mayor, succeeding the current mayor, Roslyn Grafstein, who chose not to run for reelection.
Haines is the former police chief of Madison Heights and the current police chief for the city of Eastpointe. He was also once the deputy city manager of Madison Heights. He prevailed over his opponent, Madison Heights City Councilmember Quinn Wright.
According to the Oakland County Clerk’s Office the night of the election, with 100% of precincts reporting, Haines captured 57.67% of the vote (3,092 votes), while Wright took 41.96% (2,250 votes). Wright will retain his council seat.
However, the situation with the rest of council remained unclear the night of the election. Five candidates were running for three four-year terms, but only two of them had their names listed on the ballot; the other three were running as write-in candidates, and the write-in votes had not been tabulated the night of Nov. 4, nor at press time Nov. 5.
What was clear is incumbent William Mier was the top vote-getter, backed by 40.42% (3,242 votes), followed by Toya Aaron, a former council member, with 38.27% (3,070 votes). The third seat was undetermined at press time.
There were 1,709 unassigned write-ins and zero rejected write-ins. The three write-in candidates were Michael Lee Covert, Laurie Geralds and Ashley Nicole Strunk. There was originally a fourth write-in candidate — Sydney Alysha Larry — but she dropped out.
Check back at candgnews.com for future updates on the council race.
Looking forward
Candidates were emailed for comment about their run. By press time Nov. 5, several replied.
Aaron said she is thankful for her return to the Madison Heights City Council.
“I am sincerely grateful and humbled for everyone who supported, encouraged and believed in me throughout this campaign,” Aaron said. “Running for City Council wasn’t only about seeking a position; it was about standing up for stronger connections, transparent communication, and a more engaged community.
“The next four years will be incredibly important for me and for our great city,” she said. “They represent an opportunity to build on what I have started: bridging gaps through trust, supporting our neighborhoods, and making sure every resident feels heard and valued.”
Wright said that while his campaign for mayor came up short, “We didn’t fall short in heart, effort or purpose,” adding that he wants to congratulate his opponent Haines on his victory, and he hopes that “Madison Heights continues to move forward united, hopeful, and focused on the things that matter most: safe neighborhoods, thriving local businesses, and opportunities for all families to succeed.” He also thanked his volunteers and supporters, and said he remains committed to the city in his work on the council.
Cales, who lost her bid for mayor in Hazel Park, said she is “deeply grateful” for the opportunity to have run, and she wants to “thank everyone who supported this campaign, shared ideas, asked questions, and most of all, voted,” adding that she is unsure of her next move but she continues to hope the best for the city’s leadership.
The other candidates did not reply by press time.