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NEED TO KNOW
- Greg Ouellette died just hours before winning a city council election in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 4
- His wife Jeanne said it was her husband’s “lifelong dream” to become a city council member, according to a press release
- She told local media outlet FOX 2 Detroit that her husband died of a heart attack
A Michigan man whose dream was to become a city council member died just hours before winning the election.
On Thursday. Nov. 6, the City of Auburn Hills announced in a press release that Greg Ouellette “who won a seat at Tuesday’s election for City Council, passed away shortly after the polls closed.”
Ouellette, who served almost 28 years on the city’s planning commission and nearly 17 years as its chairman, died of a heart attack, his wife Jeanne told local media outlet FOX 2 Detroit.
“Greg was a well-respected and instrumental leader of the Planning Commission where he helped guide some of the most complex developments in the community,” city manager Tom Tanghe said in a statement.
“I believe that somehow Greg was able to know that he won that election on Tuesday,” Ouellette’s wife added in the release, saying that it was her husband’s “lifelong dream to be a member of City Council.”
Greg Ouellette Facebook
Jeanne added that she was comforted by the fact that her husband had been elected by Auburn Hills residents before his death on Tuesday evening.
“My husband passed away before the results were in that night. He knew because we worked hard for it,” she added to FOX 2 Detroit. “I hope they honor him for all the service he’s shown toward this community.”
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Ouellette received 1,278 votes on Tuesday as he competed against five other candidates for one of four open seats, according to The Oakland Press, marking his second attempt for a council seat.
“Greg called me on Friday and told me that he had a really good feeling that he was going to win this time,” Steve Cohen, director of community development for the city, said in the press release.
A new city council is set to be sworn in on Monday, Nov. 17, and Ouellette will be honored “for his contributions to the community” and the council “will pay tribute to him prior to the start of regular business that night.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ouellette family, and we have no doubt how proud they must be that Greg achieved his dream of being elected to City Council,” Mayor Brian Marzolf added in a statement, per the release.
“The City Council will announce how they plan to move forward with the selection of a new City Councilperson,” the release concluded.
Source: people.com
