Tim Greimel
{{short description|American politician from Michigan}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{promotional|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Tim Greimel
|office = Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
|term_start = January 9, 2013
|term_end = January 1, 2017
|predecessor = Richard Hammel
|successor = Sam Singh
|state_house1 = Michigan
|district1 = 29th
|term_start1 = March 6, 2012
|term_end1 = January 1, 2019
|predecessor1 = Tim W. Melton
|successor1 = Brenda Carter
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|47|2021|10|26}}
|birth_place = Oakland County, Michigan, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = University of Michigan (BA, MPP, JD)
}}
Tim Greimel (born 1973/1974)https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2021/10/26/veteran-lawmaker-political-newcomer-battle-pontiac-next-mayor/6108733001/ is an American politician who serves as Mayor of Pontiac, Michigan, and previously as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, to which he was 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.2013-2014 Michigan Manual: [http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(e53mpd45cjctls3zo4rvds55))/documents/2013-2014/michiganmanual/2013-MM-P0192-p0192.pdf State Representative Tim Greimel]{{Cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/jase_bolger_michigan_house.html |title=Michigan House Republicans stick with Jase Bolger; Democrats select Tim Greimel as their leader |publisher=Booth Newspapers |author=Martin, Tim |date=November 8, 2012 |accessdate=January 30, 2015}}
In October 2017, Greimel announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to represent Michigan's 11th congressional district but in the Democratic primary on August 7, 2018, he lost to Haley Stevens.{{cite web| url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/10/17/michigan-tim-greimel-district-congress/772585001/ |title=State Rep. Tim Greimel joins crowded congressional field |publisher=Detroit Free Press |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=October 17, 2017}}
In November 2021, Greimel was elected Mayor of Pontiac, Michigan, with 61.66% of the vote.{{Cite web |last=Proxmire |first=Crystal |date=2022-01-03 |title=Phoenix Rising in Pontiac as City Gets all New Council, Tim Greimel as Mayor |url=https://oaklandcounty115.com/2022/01/03/phoenix-rising-in-pontiac-as-city-gets-all-new-council-tim-greimel-as-mayor/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Oakland County Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Laitner |first=Bill |date=November 3, 2021 |title=Pontiac election results: New mayor and council bring potential for change |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/11/03/pontiac-michigan-mayor-race-election-results-2021/6241329001/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Laitner |first=Bill |title=Pontiac election results: New mayor and council bring potential for change |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130100751/https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/11/03/pontiac-michigan-mayor-race-election-results-2021/6241329001/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Internet Archive |language=en-US}}
In 2025, Greimel announced that he was running to fill the U.S. House seat being vacated by John James.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |title=Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel enters race for US House seat currently held by James |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/04/10/pontiac-mayor-greimel-us-house-seat/83013125007/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Pontiac, MI |url=https://www.pontiac.mi.us/government/mayor/about_mayor.php |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=www.pontiac.mi.us |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Cunningham |first=Peter |date=March 2015 |title=Michigan's Lawyer-Legislatures of the 98th State Legislature |url=https://www.michbar.org/file/barjournal/article/documents/pdf4article2578.pdf |journal=Michigan Bar Journal |pages=22}} Greimel was admitted into the State Bar of Michigan on November 15, 2000.{{Cite web |title=Timothy A. Greimel |url=https://sbm.reliaguide.com/lawyer/48326-MI-Timothy-Greimel-45098 |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=State Bar of Michigan |language=en}} He has a focus in labor and employment law, and civil rights law.
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.{{Cite web |title=Open Oakland Clerk's Public Document Search |url=https://openoakland2.oakgov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2355&dbid=0&repo=Open-Oakland&cr=1 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=openoakland2.oakgov.com}} During his time on the school board, Greimel briefly served as president of the board.{{Cite web |title=Tim Greimel |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tim_Greimel |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}} In August 2008, and again in 2010, Greimel was elected as County Commissioner of the 11th district.{{Cite web |title=Past Election Results {{!}} Oakland County, MI |url=https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting/past-election-results |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.oakgov.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Open Oakland Clerk's Public Document Search |url=https://openoakland2.oakgov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2418&searchid=e4a361d1-6c2f-4666-9859-45314ec840d4&dbid=0&repo=Open-Oakland&cr=1 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=openoakland2.oakgov.com}}{{Clarify|reason=What 11th district|date=December 2023}} At the end of 2011, Greimel won a special election for District 29 in the Michigan House of Representatives.{{Cite web |title=Open Oakland Clerk's Public Document Search |url=https://openoakland2.oakgov.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=5260&searchid=e4a361d1-6c2f-4666-9859-45314ec840d4&dbid=0&repo=Open-Oakland&cr=1 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=openoakland2.oakgov.com}} 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.
In 2021, Greimel ran for mayor of Pontiac. Greimel delivered his first state of the city address for Pontiac on September 29, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-24 |title=Pontiac 'State of City' to be delivered on Sept. 29 |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2022/09/24/pontiac-state-of-city-on-sept-29/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Oakland Press |language=en-US}}
Views
= Education =
According to Ballotpedia, during his time in the legislature, Greimel supported legislation to expand and support technical careers education.{{Cite web |title=Tim Greimel |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tim_Greimel |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}} One of Greimel's main campaign promises was to improve Pontiac Public Schools by hiring liaisons-and-recreation coordinators, and working with Pontiac School District, Oakland Intermediate School District, local charter schools, and non-profits to improve recreation, after school activities, and early education, and increase technical education.{{Cite web |title=Tim Greimel |url=https://michiganlcv.org/lawmaker/tim-greimel/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Michigan League of Conservation Voters |language=en}}
= Infrastructure =
Most of Greimel's views and work about infrastructure has been in roads. Greimel introduced legislation to refund Michigan drivers with a tax credit for car damage caused by damaged roads. According to his campaign website, Greimel planned to spend more money on Pontiac's roads, specifically the Woodward Avenue loop, to improve access to downtown.{{Cite web |last=By |date=2021-12-13 |title=Q&A with incoming Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2021/12/13/qa-with-incoming-pontiac-mayor-tim-greimel/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=The Oakland Press |language=en-US}} His campaign also promised to increase access to Wi-Fi and spend money on water-and-sewer repairs. During his time in the state legislature, Greimel called on former Governor Rick Snyder to resign after the Flint water crisis.
= Strengthening neighborhoods =
Greimel believed enforcing anti-blight policies and code enforcement for the appearance of buildings would help strengthen Pontiac's neighborhoods. He also planned on implementing adopt-a-highway and adopt-a-block programs, and to re-establish Community Development Block Grants.{{Cite web |last=Martindale |first=Mike |title=Greimel wins mayoral race in Pontiac, Fournier reelected in Royal Oak |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2021/11/02/oakland-county-election-results-pontiac-royal-oak-mayor-tim-greimel-michael-fournier/6184538001/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}
= Job expansion and economic opportunity =
Greimel believed in making downtown a one-stop shop, and make Pontiac an easier-and-friendlier place to do business. This included consistent and accessible permits, moving the Farmer's Market downtown, facilitating free entrepreneurship classes, implementing more Pontiac-specific policies, and promoting women-and-minority-owned businesses. Greimel acted on this and developed a Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
= Downtown redevelopment plan =
During his mayoralty, Greimel worked with Oakland County officials to redevelop Pontiac's downtown area and increase foot traffic.{{Cite web |last=Golston |first=Hilary |date=2023-08-17 |title=$130 million Pontiac redevelopment plan has officials hoping for downtown rebirth |url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/130-million-pontiac-redevelopment-plan-has-officials-hoping-for-downtown-rebirth |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=FOX 2 Detroit |language=en-US}} Greimel planned to demolish the Phoenix Center and replace it with a recreational space that would serve as a city center.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Oakland County leaders announce a $100 million investment to redevelop downtown Pontiac |url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/community-connection/oakland-county-leaders-announce-a-100-million-investment-to-redevelop-downtown-pontiac |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=WXYZ 7 Action News Detroit |language=en}} Greimel described the Phoenix Center as a "dilapidated eyesore of a derelict parking structure".{{Cite web |title=Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel discusses future plans for Phoenix Center, Ottawa Towers - CBS Detroit |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/video/pontiac-mayor-tim-greimel-discusses-future-plans-for-phoenix-center-ottawa-towers/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}
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 is expected to cost around $120–130 million, most of which would come from the state, Oakland County, and the American Rescue Plan Act. Greimel said the downtown redevelopment plan "will ensure the city owns a large space that can facilitate outdoor concerts and serve as a town square and public place for the community".
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
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{{s-bef|before=Richard Hammel}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives|years=2013–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=Sam Singh}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greimel, Tim}}
Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Category:Mayors of Pontiac, Michigan