MAYOR
Number of spots: 1 total, 1 up for election
Term: 4 years
Term limits: None
Compensation: $224,572 by July 2025
Role: The mayor is the chief executive of the city of Detroit and is accountable for the executive branch of the government. These duties include:
- Develop and execute a vision for the city
- Act as a conservator of the peace of the city and administer oaths and take affidavits.
- Appoint and manage deputies, department directors and other key personnel who oversee the operations of the city
- Hold at least one community meeting in each of the non at-large districts and a city-wide community meeting
- Manage the preparation, amendment, administration, and financial reporting of the city budget.
- Represent the city on a world stage
- Champion city initiatives
- Communicate with the public
CITY COUNCIL
Number of spots: 9 total, 9 up for election (1 from each of 7 districts and 2 chosen at-large)
Term: 4 years
Term limits: Two positions, City Council president and president pro tempore, are elected from within the body at the beginning of each new session and last for four-year terms.
Compensation: For council members: $106,231 by July 2025; for council president: $111,647 by July 2025
Role: The City Council acts as the legislative body for the city and engages in the following tasks:
- Operate at least five committees
- Budget and Finance
- Neighborhood and Community Services
- Human Resources
- Law and Public Safety
- Planning and Economic Development
- Any other committee the council deems necessary
- Adopt the city budget
- Pass ordinances and resolutions, including those to meet a public emergency
- Make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city agency.
- Subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence in any matter pending before it or any of its committees.
- Approval of mayoral appointments of the Chief of Police, Fire Commissioner, Director of Planning and Development, Director of Human Resources and Corporation Counsel
- Oversee city property, including approving any property sales or disposal or new purchases of property
- Setting sewer and water rates as well as other general tax and service rates
- Overriding a mayoral veto
- Setting the council agenda for its meetings
- Representing their respective districts and the interests of residents
- Working with the community to understand local issues and get feedback
CITY CLERK
Number of spots: 1 total, 1 up for election
Term: 4 years
Term limits: None
Compensation: $106,231 (as of July 2025)
Role:
- Keep all papers filed in or pertaining to the Office of the City Clerk
- Keep the corporation seal of the city
- When requested, certify, under the corporate seal, copies of all papers and records for the office
- Administer oaths
- Take affidavits
- Maintain reasonably accessible voter registration sites throughout the city on a year-round basis
- Serve as City Council’s clerk and keep a record of all its ordinances, resolutions, and other proceedings and perform other such duties as it may provide
- Exercise other powers and duties as provided by law, the City Charter or ordinance.
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
Number of spots: 11 total, 7 up for election (Four members of the Board shall be appointed by the mayor)
Term: 4 years
Term limits: None
Compensation: Elected members shall not be entitled to salaries, retirement benefits, health benefits or other fringe benefits
Role:
- Establish policies, rules and regulations in consultation with the police chief and with the approval of the mayor
- Review and approve the departmental budget before its submission to the mayor
- Receive and resolve any complaint concerning the operation of the Detroit Police Department and forward all allegations of criminality to the appropriate internal or external law enforcement agency for further investigation
- Act as the final authority in imposing or reviewing discipline of police department employees
- Make an annual report to the mayor, the City Council, and the public of the police department’s activities during the previous year, including the handling of crime and complaints. The Board may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the production of evidence
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Number of spots: 7 total, 3 up for election (5 from individual districts, 1 youth member between 13-17, 1 senior representative)
Term: 4 years
Term limits: No more than two consecutive 4-year terms. The youth member cannot be reelected if they are older than 17.
Compensation: Unpaid (must hold public meetings at least four times per year)
Funding: Community Advisory Councils shall receive no appropriations from city funds, but may accept donations or grants in accordance with state, federal or local laws.
Role:
- Communicate local district concerns to the City Council
- Community problem solving by meeting with different groups, agencies, businesses and residents
- Disseminating information to groups, agencies, businesses and residents on social and physical plans for the districts areas.
- Providing advice to community representatives and City Council on major issues within the council district, including housing development, commercial blight, safety and security, economic and community development, employment opportunities, code enforcement and environmental conditions.
- Assisting the community in understanding the City Charter and Master Plan.
- Meet annually with the mayor and City Council on issues affecting the district.