Greg Ouellette, a 69-year-old politician from Michigan, tragically passed away due to a heart attack mere hours after securing a victory in the Auburn Hills city council election on Tuesday. The city confirmed his passing soon after the election results were announced. Ouellette’s wife shared her conviction that her husband was aware of his triumph before his untimely demise.
Ouellette was one of six candidates vying for four open seats on the council. Before the election, he had expressed confidence in his prospects, as per Steve Cohen, Auburn Hills Director of Community Development. Ouellette garnered 1,278 votes, which accounted for 15.15% of the total, securing him the fourth-highest vote count and a two-year term on the council.
Ouellette had a distinguished record of public service in Auburn Hills, a suburban city situated 26 miles north of Detroit. He had dedicated 28 years to the city’s planning commission, including a 17-year tenure as chairman. This was his second attempt at securing a city council seat, following an unsuccessful bid in 2023.
Ouellette was set to be sworn in on November 17. The city council plans to pay tribute to him at its next meeting by leaving his seat vacant and acknowledging his contributions. Auburn Hills Mayor Brian Marzolf extended his condolences to the Ouellette family, recognizing Greg’s accomplishment of his dream of being elected to the city council.
In addition to his public service, Ouellette was lauded for his leadership on the planning commission, where he played a pivotal role in steering complex community developments. In 2018, the city government honored him for his two decades of “dedicated service” to the commission.
Beyond his political career, Ouellette was a passionate hiker and a member of a weekly hiking group. He had scaled Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the highest peak in the Northeast. Fellow hiker Tom Lipinski, who had completed over 430 hikes with Ouellette over nine years, remembered him as a compassionate individual who was always willing to lend a helping hand.