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DeQuincy Hyatt
DeQuincy Hyatt ran for election to the Detroit City Council to represent District 5 in Michigan. He lost as a write-in in the primary on August 5, 2025.
Hyatt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Detroit, Michigan (2025)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Detroit City Council District 5
Willie Burton and Renata Miller are running in the general election for Detroit City Council District 5 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Willie Burton (Nonpartisan)  | |
 | Renata Miller (Nonpartisan) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Detroit City Council District 5
The following candidates ran in the primary for Detroit City Council District 5 on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Renata Miller (Nonpartisan) | 22.7 | 3,053 |
| ✔ | | Willie Burton (Nonpartisan) | 19.0 | 2,558 |
 | Esther Haugabook (Nonpartisan) | 17.6 | 2,364 | |
 | Tatjana Jackson (Nonpartisan) | 15.4 | 2,075 | |
 | George Adams Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 13.6 | 1,829 | |
 | Michael Hartt (Nonpartisan) | 5.0 | 671 | |
 | Michael Ri'chard (Nonpartisan) | 4.6 | 624 | |
| Kevin Jones (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 1.0 | 130 | ||
| Whitney Clarke (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.1 | 9 | ||
 | DeQuincy Hyatt (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 3 | |
| Jerome Shell (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Alexander Cheatom (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 115 | ||
| Total votes: 13,432 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Bonzetta Ferrell (Nonpartisan)
- Theodore Jones (Nonpartisan)
- Bonnie Warmack Jr. (Nonpartisan)
- Chantel Watkins (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
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2021
See also: City elections in Detroit, Michigan (2021)
General election
General election for Detroit City Council District 7
Fred Durhal III defeated Regina Ross in the general election for Detroit City Council District 7 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Fred Durhal III (Nonpartisan) | 50.1 | 5,607 |
 | Regina Ross (Nonpartisan) | 49.5 | 5,548 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 42 | ||
| Total votes: 11,197 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Detroit City Council District 7
The following candidates ran in the primary for Detroit City Council District 7 on August 3, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Fred Durhal III (Nonpartisan) | 29.9 | 2,563 |
| ✔ | | Regina Ross (Nonpartisan) | 24.2 | 2,076 |
| John Bennett (Nonpartisan) | 19.6 | 1,676 | ||
 | JoAnna Underwood (Nonpartisan) | 14.1 | 1,210 | |
| William Davis (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 454 | ||
| Angy Webb (Nonpartisan) | 4.1 | 353 | ||
| Robert Dunlap (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 1.4 | 120 | ||
| Reba Neely (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.2 | 19 | ||
| Ericka Murria (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.2 | 18 | ||
| Charles Anthony (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 80 | ||
| Total votes: 8,571 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- DeQuincy Hyatt (Nonpartisan)
- Terrell George (Nonpartisan)
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
DeQuincy Hyatt completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hyatt's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am the proud father of three incredible children—two teenage daughters and a 4-year-old son. A devoted man of faith, I serve as Chairman of the Men’s Ministry at New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church under the leadership of Pastor Horace Sheffield III. I also founded the New Destiny Man Cave—a safe and empowering space for brotherhood, mentorship, and spiritual growth. Beyond the church, I’m proud to serve on the board of Clean Up Detroit, a nonprofit focused on revitalizing and beautifying neighborhoods throughout our city.
Born and raised right here in Detroit, I am a proud product of the Detroit Public School system. Growing up in a single-parent household with five siblings, I witnessed firsthand the strength of my mother, who worked three minimum wage jobs and depended on public transportation. That experience drives my deep commitment to improving public transit and expanding opportunity for Detroit families.
In 2015, I launched my own trucking company. Nearly a decade later, I’ve traveled the country, built a successful business, and gained valuable insight into infrastructure, logistics, and leadership.
Today, I bring that entrepreneurial spirit, real-life experience, and passion for community to the table as a write-in candidate for Detroit City Council – District 5. My mission is clear: to move Detroit forward in a major way—with practical solutions, bold leadership, and a heart for the people.- I will introduce new legislation to establish a Rent-to-Own Program that empowers low-income residents to purchase property directly from the City of Detroit.
This initiative will give hardworking families a fair shot at homeownership—turning renters into owners, stabilizing neighborhoods, and building generational wealth in our communities. Everyone deserves the opportunity to own a piece of the city they call home.
Let’s build a Detroit where opportunity lives on every block. - I will push to make it easier for Detroit residents to purchase and renovate properties from the Detroit Land Bank Authority. I will introduce a new ordinance requiring the Land Bank to offer land contract purchasing options exclusively to Detroit residents. This common-sense reform will help more Detroiters become property owners, drive neighborhood revitalization, and ensure that the people who’ve stayed and invested in our city have a real opportunity to build equity and legacy. It’s time to put Detroit property back in the hands of Detroiters.
- Cracking Down on Illegal Scrapping to Protect Our Neighborhoods For decades, Detroit homes and commercial properties have been stripped and destroyed by illegal scrapping—bad actors who vandalize vacant buildings, stealing copper pipes, steel, aluminum, appliances, and more. This practice has devastated our neighborhoods, driving down property values and making it harder to rebuild. As your City Council representative, I will introduce legislation to ban illegal scrapping and hold recycling companies accountable by prohibiting them from purchasing stolen materials from scrappers. We must cut off the demand that fuels this destruction. Detroit deserves better—and I will fight to protect our homes, businesses, and future.
Lowering Crime - I will work to make the Project Green Light program more affordable and accessible so that all local businesses and residential homeowners can participate in keeping their establishments and neighborhoods safe particularly those living in high-crime areas and near vulnerable street corners. Everyone deserves to feel secure where they live and work.
Councilmembers approve and oversee the city’s budget, deciding how taxpayer dollars are spent. City
Council serves as a check on the Mayor’s office and city departments, ensuring transparency, and much more.
I also draw inspiration from the "Holy Bible" in which causing me to trust in prayer, and in the Higher Power for direction, conviction, wisdom, and keeping the faith against all odds, and the bible serves a reminder that we are not just responsible for serving others but we can help shape real people’s lives and destiny.
The foundation of public trust. An elected official must be honest, transparent, and guided by strong moral principles—doing what’s right even when no one is watching.
2. Accountability
Responsibility to the people is key. Officials should be answerable for their actions, decisions, and how public resources are managed. That means owning mistakes and correcting course when necessary.
3. Service-Oriented Mindset
Public office is not about power—it’s about service. A great leader puts the needs of the community above personal interests and works to uplift the most vulnerable.
4. Empathy and Compassion
Effective leaders listen, understand, and care about the struggles of their constituents. This ensures that policies reflect real-life needs and challenges.
5. Vision and Bold Leadership
Great officials don’t just manage the present—they plan for the future. Visionary leadership means setting long-term goals and having the courage to pursue transformative change.
6. Communication and Transparency
Keeping constituents informed and engaged is essential. Clear, honest communication builds trust and helps residents feel included in the decisions that affect their lives.
7. Collaboration and Unity
Progress takes teamwork. The best leaders build coalitions, work across differences, and bring people together to solve problems.
8. Competence and Preparedness
You are the voice of your constituents. That means actively listening, staying accessible, attending neighborhood meetings, and being present for the people you serve.
2. Develop and Pass City Legislation
City Council Members propose, debate, and pass ordinances that affect housing, public safety, transportation, economic development, and more. Crafting smart, effective policy is central to the role.
3. Approve and Oversee the City Budget
You help decide how Detroit’s money is spent. Councilmembers review and vote on the city’s budget—ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely and equitably, especially for underserved communities.
4. Oversee City Departments and Contracts
You hold departments accountable for delivering services like sanitation, police, public transit, and housing. You also review and approve contracts to ensure transparency and fairness.
5. Advocate for Equitable Resources
District 5 deserves its fair share of city resources. A Councilmember fights for funding, services, and investment in schools, parks, roads, public safety, and economic opportunity.
6. Promote Public Safety and Community Wellness
You shape policies that reduce crime, improve mental health support, and invest in preventative solutions like youth programs and neighborhood lighting.
7. Strengthen Housing and Neighborhood Development
I want to leave behind stronger neighborhoods, where families feel safe, youth have opportunity, and Detroiters, and especially those who've been overlooked can own homes, start businesses, and build generational wealth.
I want to be known as someone who did the hard work, listened to the people, and fought for them with everything I had. A Councilman who showed up, not just during election season, but every single day.
Ultimately, I want my legacy to say:
That moment became the lowest point in my life, a turning point that forced me to reflect, take full accountability, and rebuild from the ground up. The record has since been expunged, but the lesson remains permanent. It taught me the true meaning of integrity, humility, and second chances.
In fact, sometimes new voices from outside the political system is exactly what we need to break old patterns and introduce new energy.
"Because they kept getting caught stealing bases"
I support clear, accessible public reporting on city spending, contracts, and development deals. I also believe in stronger oversight of city departments and agencies, especially when it comes to how they serve our neighborhoods.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2021
DeQuincy Hyatt did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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