Tim Greimel

Tim Greimel (born 1973/1974)^[1] is an American politician who serves as the mayor of Pontiac, Michigan. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Greimel was previously a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, to which he was first elected in a special election in 2012 following the resignation of Tim W. Melton. After Greimel's election to a full term in 2012, his colleagues elected him to serve as the House's minority leader.^[2][3]

Tim Greimel
Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office January 9, 2013 – January 1, 2017
Preceded by	Richard Hammel
Succeeded by	Sam Singh
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 29th district
In office March 6, 2012 – January 1, 2019
Preceded by	Tim W. Melton
Succeeded by	Brenda Carter
Personal details
Born	1973 or 1974 (age 50–51) Oakland County, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Michigan (BA, MPP, JD)

In October 2017, Greimel announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to represent Michigan's 11th congressional district. He lost the Democratic primary to Haley Stevens.^[4]

In November 2021, Greimel was elected mayor of Pontiac, Michigan, with 61.66% of the vote.^[5][6][7]

In 2025, Greimel announced that he was running to fill the U.S. House seat being vacated by John James.^[8]

Education and background

Tim Greimel attended the University of Michigan, from which he received his bachelor's degree in economics and political science, a master's degree in public policy, and juris doctor degree.^[9][10] Greimel was admitted into the State Bar of Michigan on November 15, 2000.^[11]

Career

In May 2005, Greimel was elected to serve on the Rochester Community School District Board of Education. He received 7,817 votes, the second-largest number of votes behind Michelle J. Shepherd, who received 7,989 votes.^[12] During his time on the school board, Greimel briefly served as president of the board.^[13] In August 2008, and again in 2010, Greimel was elected as County Commissioner of the 11th district.^{[14][15][clarification needed]} At the end of 2011, Greimel won a special election for District 29 in the Michigan House of Representatives.^[16] Following the special election, Greimel won the election for a full term in 2012. Greimel served as the Democratic leader for the House until 2018, when he lost the Democratic primary for Michigan's 11th congressional district to Haley Stevens by 4,636 votes.^[13]

In 2021, Greimel ran for mayor of Pontiac. Greimel delivered his first state of the city address for Pontiac on September 29, 2022.^[17]

During his mayoralty, Greimel worked with Oakland County officials to redevelop Pontiac's downtown area and increase foot traffic.^[18] Greimel planned to demolish the Phoenix Center and replace it with a recreational space that would serve as a city center.^[19] Greimel described the Phoenix Center as a "dilapidated eyesore of a derelict parking structure".^[20]

Oakland County purchased two buildings to be used as office space in downtown Pontiac. Greimel expected the increased foot traffic from county employees and the new city center would boost economic activity in Pontiac's downtown area. The redevelopment project was expected to cost around $120–130 million, most of which would come from the state, Oakland County, and the American Rescue Plan Act.^[18]