Kermit Williams is a lifelong Pontiac resident and one of two candidates on the ballot to become the next mayor of Pontiac.
I can remember walking throughout the city with my mother in Pontiac. Getting Superman Ice Cream or a Hamburger from Uncle Jerry’s barbecue or spending my last dollar at Mother Hubbard and literally 100 fruity and tootsie rolls.
Everything I needed as a child was within walking distance of my house, and for most of my young life we did not have a car or at least one that worked well. I was able to walk next door to the Boys & Girls Club or ride my bike to the community center around the corner. Even though we didn’t have economic strength, we had an ecosystem that has granted me the opportunity to help lead the city through its worst economic times and steer Pontiac toward prosperity.
As the next Mayor of Pontiac Mayor, I will be a steward of equity, not just an administrator of growth.
Pontiac is rising. This is not hyperbole; it is a measurable reality. We celebrate the city’s impressive AA- bond rating, the $20 million bond secured for a new recreation center, and the long-awaited demolition of the Phoenix Center, which will clear the way for a $174.5 million revitalization project that promises to bring hundreds of county jobs back downtown. Our city is entering a hard-won renaissance, the fruits of years of fiscal discipline and community resilience.
But a renaissance without equity is merely gentrification.
This mayoral election is the most critical juncture in a generation. The choice before us is not whether Pontiac will grow, but for whom that growth will occur. We must choose a mayor who is a steward of equity, ensuring that this new wave of opportunity builds generational wealth and stability for the families and long-time residents who held the heart of this city together during its leanest times. If we merely administer the city’s growth, we risk repeating the painful, familiar story of revitalization that pushes Black families out.
Mandating Equitable Economic Development
The influx of investment, particularly the commitment from Oakland County to return 700 employees downtown, presents a transformative economic opportunity. Yet, new development often bypasses local workers and minority-owned businesses. The next mayor must ensure that every public dollar invested downtown yields direct benefits on our blocks and streets.
To achieve this, the new administration must make Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) a non-negotiable requirement for every major project receiving public support or tax incentives. We must look to successful models like the Detroit Community Benefits Ordinance and apply its principles with an eye toward Pontiac’s unique needs.
These legally binding agreements must demand:
- Local Hiring Priority: A firm, measurable percentage of all new construction and permanent jobs must be reserved for Pontiac residents, with targeted pathways for youth and returning citizens.
- Minority Business Inclusion: Mandating significant procurement set-asides for Pontiac-based Black and Brown-owned businesses to secure contracts for construction, catering, and ongoing service needs.
This is not a political favor. It is a fundamental act of economic justice.
It is the only way to ensure that our neighbors are not just the service workers for a downtown that is unaffordable to them, but are instead the contractors, managers, and stakeholders driving this new prosperity. We must treat every public dollar invested as an opportunity to build generational wealth in our neighborhoods.
The Housing Imperative: Stability Over Displacement
As investment flows in and downtown sparkles, the price of simply existing in Pontiac is climbing. Rising property values and spiked assessments are the primary engines of displacement for long-time homeowners and renters. The mayor must move with urgency to protect the foundation of our community: our homes.
First, we must safeguard our homeowners. The recent efforts to fund home repair are commendable, but they are not nearly enough. The new mayor must commit to a massive, well-funded scale-up of the Pontiac Home Repair Program, using new tax revenues and our improved bond rating to finance grants and zero-interest loans that help legacy homeowners afford essential repairs and rising property tax bills. Homeownership is the greatest builder of generational wealth; we must protect it.
Second, we must address the rental crisis. The mayor must champion Inclusionary Zoning for all new multi-family residential developments. A mandatory, non-waivable percentage of units must be reserved as truly affordable housing, with rates tied to Pontiac’s local Area Median Income (AMI), not the inflated and often-misleading Oakland County AMI.
Furthermore, the new administration should work with the City Council and housing advocates to reform restrictive zoning codes (like single-family-only zoning where density is needed) to allow for the volume of housing necessary to meet demand and stabilize prices.
Investing in Human Infrastructure
Finally, a city’s health is measured by its people. We celebrate the new Recreation Center, but it is just brick and mortar without bold vision. The next mayor must ensure the facility is supported by expanded, year-round youth programming and skilled trades training. This is not only an investment in the next generation of Pontiac’s workforce, but a necessary and proven strategy for community safety and crime prevention.
In partnership with the community, the mayor must commit to aggressive, equitable blight elimination and fully supporting our first responders.
Crucially, the city must foster transparent, authentic community-based public safety initiatives that build trust and address the root causes of violence, rather than simply relying on punitive measures.
The new administration will also inherit two acres of prime public space following the Phoenix Center demolition. This land cannot be quietly handed over to the highest bidder for private development. The mayor must facilitate a community-led process to design a true public asset—a vibrant park, green space, or gathering area that reflects the wishes and needs of Pontiac residents.
This mayoral election is a referendum on our city’s soul.
We have emerged from financial crisis and have earned the chance at prosperity. Now, we must demand a leader who understands that prosperity is only meaningful if it is shared by all.
Vote for the mayor who will ensure that Pontiac’s boom benefits the block, the neighborhood, and the resilient families who are the true foundation of the heart of Oakland County. Vote for Kermit Williams.
