Monique Owens

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Monique Owens
Mayor of Eastpointe, Michigan
In office
November 2019[1] – Incumbent
Preceded bySuzanne Pixley
Eastpointe City Council
In office
2017–2019
Personal details
Born (1984-02-21) February 21, 1984 (age 40)[2]
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[3]
Other political
affiliations		Republican (2022)[4]
Democratic (2022)[4]
Children2[1]

Monique Owens (born February 21, 1984[2]) is an American politician who is the first African-American mayor of Eastpointe, Michigan. She previously served on the Eastpointe City Council from 2017 to 2019.

Biography

Early career

Owens started her career as a clerical employee with the Detroit Police Department and later served as a Wayne County Sheriff's deputy[5] for 11 years.[6] The Wayne County Sheriff's Office suspended Owens in 2010.[7]

Political career

Owens moved from Clinton Township to Eastpointe in 2010.[8][5][9]

City Council

In 2017, a federal judge ruled that the city's methodology of electing of council members at-large rather than by district diluted the vote of the Black population (Eastpointe was 30% Black at the time) and was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.[5] In 2017, Owens was elected to the Eastpointe City Council, the first African-American to serve as councilperson in the city.[5][10]

LGBT issues

Owens was the only council member to vote "no" on the city's Pride Month resolution in 2019, saying that Eastpointe has "always accepted everybody".[11] After becoming mayor, she voted against similar resolutions in both 2020 and 2021.[12][13]

As mayor, Owens attended a Feb. 2020 speech by Louis Farrakhan which included anti-LGBT remarks.[14]

Mayor

In 2019, incumbent mayor Suzanne Pixley did not file to run for re-election.[15] On November 5, 2019, Owens was narrowly[6] elected mayor with 32.5 percent of the vote in a five-way contest. She received 19 more votes than runner-up Mike Klinefelt.[5][16]

Property tax exemption

In July 2021, Owens applied for a poverty exemption from property taxes on her home in Eastpointe. The Eastpointe Board of Review later granted the mayor a 100 percent exemption from property taxes in 2021.[17]

Museum dispute

In October 2021, Eastpointe Community Schools board member Mary Hall-Rayford criticized Owens for her behavior at the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Museum.[18] The Macomb Daily reported that Owens brought someone to tour the museum during hours when it was closed to the public and that she entered areas that were restricted to museum employees only. Staff also complained that Owens violated the museum's policy prohibiting beverages near the exhibits and refused to comply when reminded of the rule. MMTHS board member Wendy Richardson said that she filmed Owens' visit using a cell phone due to legal concerns. Owens objected to the recording and alleged that museum staff had violated her rights by filming her.[19]

Candidate for Harper Woods city manager position

In 2021, Owens applied for the full-time city manager position in Harper Woods, Michigan. In September, the city extended Owens a conditional job offer, which she accepted on September 30. Owens expressed her intent to remain mayor of Eastpointe while working as city manager of Harper Woods. The following day, the mayor of Harper Woods announced that Owens did not meet the conditions of the contract. As a result, Owens did not receive the job.[20]

2021 city election

In Eastpointe's 2021 general election, Owens endorsed Shenita Lloyd and Michael Jones for city council. Both candidates were defeated by Cardi DeMonaco, an incumbent, and Rob Baker,[21] who had previously served a partial term on the council.[22]

That same day, voters also approved a city charter amendment requiring the city to hold a mayoral primary if more than two candidates run for mayor in the same election.[23]

Censure

The Eastpointe City Council voted 3-1 to censure Owens at its April 5, 2022, meeting.[24]

2022 city council walkout

At the council's September 6, 2022, meeting, Owens repeatedly interrupted and talked over residents during the public comment section of the meeting, objecting that speakers may not discuss a police matter involving Owens and another council member, Harvey Curley. The city's attorney advised the council that they may not restrict a speaker's subject matter, except for racial accusations and similar remarks. When Owens continued to interrupt subsequent speakers and raise her voice, all four council members walked out in protest, leaving Owens alone at the table and effectively ending the meeting.[25][26][27][28]

2022 Michigan Senate campaign

Owens filed on April 15 to run for the Republican nomination for state senate in the 11th district. Four days later, she withdrew from the Republican primary and filed to run in the Democratic primary in the same district.[4][29]

On June 18, Owens attended the opening ceremonies of Cruisin' Gratiot, an annual car cruise hosted by a nonprofit in Eastpointe. As the ceremonies ended, Owens approached the microphone and spoke to the crowd against the organization's wishes. Harvey Curley, a longtime Cruisin' Gratiot board member who is also a city councilman, then confronted Owens. She later reported the incident to police, alleging that Curley had assaulted her. She also filed for a personal protective order.[30]

On September 23, 2022, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Rachel Rancilio issued a denial of Eastpointe Mayor Monique Owens’ request for a personal protection order.[31][32]

The Detroit News endorsed Owens in the primary.[33] The Detroit Free Press endorsed her opponent in the primary, citing Owens' "oddly malleable" values and expressing concern that she may switch her party affiliation again.[4]

Owens lost the Democratic primary election to Veronica Klinefelt by a nearly two-to-one margin.[34][35][36]

Personal life

Monique Owens lives in Eastpointe and has two children.[37]

Owens is a Christian.[4] She said in a 2021 city council meeting that she does not celebrate Christmas.[38]

In 2022, Monique Owens authored a children's book titled Mom, What's a Mayor?[39][37]

References

  1. ^ a b Losinski, Brendan (November 19, 2019). "Eastpointe council sworn in, search begins for final member". Eastpointe Eastsider. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  2. ^ a b Affidavit of Identity, Monique Owens, 2019 mayoral candidacy
  3. ^ Lee, Natasha (October 5, 2020). "That Girl Meets; Monique Owens, First African American Mayor of Eastpointe Michigan".
  4. ^ a b c d e Detroit Free Press Editorial Board (July 21, 2022). "Endorsements: Our choices for Aug. 2 state Senate primaries". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Salam, Sara (April 2020). "Michigan's Eastpointe Welcomes Its First Black Mayor". Professional Women's Magazine.
  6. ^ a b Massey, Patreice A. (November 6, 2019). "Monique Owens makes history…Again! Becomes First Black Mayor of Eastpointe". Michigan Chronicle. Owens, 33, narrowly beat out fellow City Council member Michael Klinefelt after receiving 1,648 votes, or 32.5% of ballots cast to Klinefelt’s 1,629 votes.
  7. ^ Wayne County Sheriff's Office Employee Discipline Report regarding Officer Monique Owens, retrieved 2021-11-29
  8. ^ Deadline Detroit (November 8, 2019). "'I proved them wrong:' Eastpointe's 1st black mayor-elect vows 'to move this community forward'". Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Samilton, Tracy (June 5, 2019). "Accused of violating Voting Rights Act by US Justice Dept., Eastpointe changes voting procedures". Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  10. ^ Hall, Cristina (November 6, 2019). "Eastpointe elects first black mayor; selects 2 council members under new voting method". Detroit Free Press.
  11. ^ Knoppow, Ellen (December 18, 2019). "Eastpointe City Council Says 'Yes' to Pride Month Resolution".
  12. ^ Knoppow, Ellen (June 25, 2020). "Eastpointe Free Store Event to Commemorate Stonewall Uprising".
  13. ^ Knoppow, Ellen (June 16, 2021). "Pride Endures in Eastpointe Despite Multiple Acts of Vandalism".
  14. ^ Williams, Candice; Krupa, Gregg (Feb 23, 2020). "Farrakhan takes on America and Trump in Detroit speech". Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  15. ^ "Eastpointe mayor announces plans to retire".
  16. ^ "Macomb County Election Results: Eastpointe Mayor, 2019".
  17. ^ Smiley, Susan (October 2, 2021). "Eastpointe mayor will not become Harper Woods city manager". The Macomb Daily.
  18. ^ Smiley, Susan (October 20, 2021). "Eastpointe residents protest mayor Monique Owens". The Macomb Daily.
  19. ^ Smiley, Susan (October 17, 2021). "Military Museum concerned Eastpointe mayor is planning its ouster". The Macomb Daily.
  20. ^ Smiley, Susan (October 2, 2021). "Eastpointe mayor will not become Harper Woods city manager". The Macomb Daily.
  21. ^ "Macomb County Election Results: Eastpointe City Council, 2021".
  22. ^ Smiley, Susan. "Familiar faces elected to Eastpointe City Council". The Macomb Daily.
  23. ^ Smiley, Susan (November 3, 2021). "Eastpointe ballot proposals approved". The Macomb Daily.
  24. ^ Smiley, Susan (April 10, 2022). "Eastpointe City Council censures Mayor Monique Owens". The Macomb Daily.
  25. ^ Smiley, Susan (September 7, 2022). "Chaos leads to walkout at Eastpointe meeting". The Macomb Daily. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Wells, Brian (September 7, 2022). "Members of Eastpointe's City Council walk out, ending meeting after less than 20 minutes". Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider. C & G Publishing. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  27. ^ Neavling, Steve (September 7, 2022). "Eastpointe mayor has meltdown over First Amendment during public meeting". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  28. ^ "Eastpointe council meeting ends abruptly over battle between mayor, community members". WDIV ClickOnDetroit. September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  29. ^ "2022 Michigan Unofficial Primary Candidate Listing - 08/02/2022".
  30. ^ Smiley, Susan (August 23, 2022). "Judge considers Eastpointe mayor's request for PPO against councilman". The Macomb Daily. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  31. ^ Smiley, Susan (September 23, 2022). "Court denies Eastpointe mayor's PPO request against councilman". The Macomb Daily. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  32. ^ Wells, Brian (October 13, 2022). "Judge denies Eastpointe mayor's request for protection order against councilman". The Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  33. ^ The Detroit News (June 28, 2022). "Endorsements: Our choices for state Senate from Macomb County". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  34. ^ Feighan, Maureen (August 3, 2022). "Macomb commissioner wins Democratic primary for 11th District state Senate seat". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  35. ^ Donahue, Allison (August 3, 2022). "Michigan legislative primaries: Some incumbents lose to colleagues, newcomers". The Michigan Advance. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  36. ^ Hall, Kalea (October 14, 2022). "Macomb County: MacDonald, Klinefelt face off in 'very competitive' Senate seat". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  37. ^ a b Allard, Maria (2022-03-23). "New book answers: 'Mom, What's A Mayor?'". C&G Newspapers. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  38. ^ Eastpointe City Council Regular Meeting - November 16, 2021. Eastpointe, Michigan: City of Eastpointe.
  39. ^ Tutman, Paula; Clarke, Kayla (2022-02-03). "'Mom, what's a mayor?': Eastpointe mayor writes book to explain to daughters what a mayor does". WDIV. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
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