Michael V. Radtke Jr. (Sterling Heights City Council At-large, Michigan, candidate 2025)

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Michael V. Radtke Jr.
Image of Michael V. Radtke Jr.

Candidate, Sterling Heights City Council At-large

Elections and appointments
Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

University of Michigan, 2009

Graduate

London School of Economics and Political Science, 2012

Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Consultant
Contact

Michael V. Radtke Jr. is running for election to the Sterling Heights City Council At-large in Michigan. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. He was on the ballot in the primary on August 5, 2025.[source]

Radtke completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

[1]

Biography

Michael V. Radtke Jr. provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 11, 2025:

  • Birth date: October 13, 1985
  • High school: Paul K. Cousino Senior High School - Warren, MI
  • Bachelor's: University of Michigan, 2009
  • Graduate: Columbia University, 2012
  • Graduate: London School of Economics and Political Science, 2012
  • Gender: Male
  • Religion: Christian: Catholic
  • Profession: Consultant
  • Incumbent officeholder: Yes
  • Campaign website
  • Campaign Facebook
  • Campaign Instagram
  • Campaign Twitter

Elections

General election

General election for Sterling Heights City Council At-large (6 seats)

The following candidates are running in the general election for Sterling Heights City Council At-large on November 4, 2025.


Candidate Connection = 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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Sterling Heights City Council At-large (6 seats)

The following candidates ran in the primary for Sterling Heights City Council At-large on August 5, 2025.


Candidate Connection = 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.

Election results

Endorsements

Radtke received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

  • SEIU Michigan State Council

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Michael V. Radtke Jr. completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Radtke's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

In 2017, I ran for City Council because I believed Sterling Heights needed new progressive leadership with a plan to strengthen public safety, deliver better city services, improve neighborhoods, and continue to attract new residents and high-tech businesses.

And now as YOUR City Councilman, I’ve been instrumental in the hiring of 15 new police officers, the addition of 14 more firefighters, the hiring of the city’s two social work case managers, the hiring of 5 additional code enforcement officers, and the continuation of the ReCreating Recreation Parks Improvement Program that is drawing new residents and young families to Sterling Heights..

But our work isn’t done. So now I’m asking you to re-elect me to the City Council, so we can continue to make Sterling Heights a thriving, vibrant, welcoming city. With your support, we’ll improve public safety, hire more city employees, further expand our parks and trails, and ensure Sterling Heights is a city for everyone—new families and long-term residents alike.

Michael
  • Hire More Police Officers. Sterling Heights still has 10 fewer police officers than before the Great Recession. I won’t stop fighting until our police department returns to full strength, ensuring that Sterling Heights remains one of America’s safest cities.
  • Improve Pedestrian and Driver Safety by creating a comprehensive safety plan to slow speeds, protect pedestrians and make our streets safer for all residents through roadway, walkability, and signalization improvements.
  • Ensure Sterling Heights is a Welcoming Community for newcomers and long-term residents alike. Diversity is one of Sterling Heights’ great strengths. We need to build on this and ensure that our city government—including our police and fire departments—represent the diverse residents I see when I leave my home every day.
Since Joining the Council Michael has a Record of Accomplishment:

Improved Public Safety by hiring 15 more police officers, 14 more firefighters, and 2 city social work case managers.

Expanded our Parks and Recreation Program by adding more trails, parks, and greenspace. Parks will be accessible in every part of our city, so that every child can play right in their own neighborhood

Ended Sidewalk Special Assessments that could cost homeowners up to $5,000 a year to repair public infrastructure that benefits all residents.

Rewrote our Master Plan to encourage sustainable and pedestrian-friendly future development that protects our neighborhoods while also creating Sterling Heights' future downtown at what is now Lakeside Mall.
City Council is a unique position because it is the form of government closest to regular people. Washington is far away, but city hall is right down the street. I believe that closeness allows us to get more done, but also ensures accountability on behalf of the residents.
To be successful, a public official must be able to listen, read and digest a lot of information, and use that information to make sound decisions in the best interest of the entire community.
I like to read and ask questions. I think these are essential qualities to be a successful officeholder.
I'd like to leave Sterling Heights better than I found it.
I think the passage of the Pathway to Play and Preservation millage is essential to that, because it will plant 15,000 trees, fix our sidewalks without special assessments, preserve green space, add 12 miles of new trail, and build 2 brand new parks.
I remember my father tying a yellow ribbon to the tree in our front yard, to support our military, during the first Gulf War. I was 6 years old at the time.
My very first job was a Christmas tree trimmer on my grandfather's Christmas tree farm in Manistee, Michigan. I spent the summer trimming trees with him, and learning about his business.
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson.

It's about the story of a woman who is born, lives a life, dies, and is born again with all the knowledge from her previous life. And her goal to get her life 'right' just once.
I have been endorsed so far by (in progress):

- AFSCME MIchigan 925
- Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO)
- Greater Detroit Building & Construction Trades Council
- Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters & Millwrights
- Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
- Pipefitters, Steamfitters, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service UA Local 636
- SMART Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 80

- United Auto Workers, Region 1
I believe firmly in financial and governmental transparency. The public should be informed on both how and why we are making our decisions in their interest.

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.

See also


External links

Footnotes