Romeo Village Leadership: Chamber Director Wins Presidential Bid

Kelley Stephens has been elected president of the Village of Romeo.

The race resulted in a split outcome for the village's top administrative posts. Stephens, the executive director of the Northern Macomb Regional Chamber of Commerce, defeated two current village officials to secure the four-year term. The victory marks a shift in leadership for the village government.

Stephens received 595 votes, representing 37.7% of the total. She out-tallied Village Council Trustee Justin Parker, who collected 536 votes or 34%. Village Clerk Jamie Lucero finished third with 439 votes, or 27.8%. Eight voters selected write-in candidates. The president role has been a full-time position for eight years.

Stephens stated on Facebook that she felt grateful and excited about the future. She noted that her commitment to the village involves listening, accessibility, and making thoughtful decisions. During her campaign, she pledged to increase interaction with Macomb County. She also promised efforts to attract businesses to the Powell Road corridor and to maintain the downtown business district. A regular newsletter was another item on her platform.

In the contest for village clerk, Lisa Hall defeated incumbent Meagan Poznanski. Hall received 977 votes, while Poznanski drew 500. Hall has worked for multiple municipalities, including Washington Township, and holds a master's degree in public administration. She previously served as the part-time director of the Downtown Development Authority. Village Treasurer Caroline Miller won her race unopposed.

The village council saw mixed results for incumbents. Trustee Zach Fowler, Matt Edwards, and Shelley Rosso retained their positions. Challengers Leo Hudson and Charles Bennett lost to the incumbents. In a separate seat, challenger Sharon Smith defeated incumbent Trustee Zachary Throne. Throne had been appointed to the board last April. Smith will serve a partial two-year term.

The village's new president has worked for the chamber for 23 years and moved to Romeo from Shelby Township around 1980. She and her husband have owned multiple businesses. Stephens has also served on the Downtown Development Authority.