City of Highland Park
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Filing Deadline: April 21st, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Elections: August 4th and November 3rd
City Officers
The elective officers shall be the Mayor, five Councilmembers (2 At-Large, 1 from each of the three districts), City Clerk and City Treasurer.
Eligibility for City Office
Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, a person is not eligible to become a candidate nor to hold an elective City office, unless he is 1) over twenty-five years of age as of the date of filing, and 2) a registered elector of the City for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the filing date.
Persons Ineligible for City Office
(a) A person who is in default to the City or to the County of Wayne or any school district located in the City shall not be eligible to assume any City office. No default shall be deemed to exist in any case where the person concerned is contesting the claim upon which the alleged default is based in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) A person who within the immediate past ten years has been convicted of violating any provision of the election laws of the State or of the City or has been convicted of a felony or of an offense involving a violation of his oath of office, shall not be eligible for any City office.
(c) For any person who is convicted of a felony for dishonesty, deceit, fraud or a breach of public trust while holding an elective office or a governmental position, there shall be a twenty (20) year disqualification period for which said person may seek or hold such positions.
(d) Except in the case of joint boards or commissions having representation from the City and one or more other units of government, no person shall simultaneously hold two City offices or a City office and a City employment.
Terms of Office
The terms of office for the Mayor, Council, Clerk and Treasurer shall be four years.
Qualifying Petitions
(a) A person desiring to qualify as a candidate for any elective office shall file 2 original affidavits of identity signed in front of a notary and nominating petitions by the filing deadline; signed by 100 registered voters in the city of Highland Park who have signed within ninety (90) days prior to the filing deadline.
(b) As an alternative to petitions, a person may qualify as a candidate by filing 2 original affidavits of identity and paying one hundred dollars ($100) by the filing deadline.