Highland Park voters will face a choice in the 2026 election, with incumbent Mayor Glenda McDonald seeking another four-year term. McDonald, who secured the August primary election, will run against community activist and Avalon Village developer Shamayim “Mama Shu” Harris. Mayor McDonald stated that she and her team have "more work to do," specifically highlighting the need to complete water infrastructure projects within the city.
A central component of Mayor McDonald’s campaign and her administration's focus has been the city's water system. The State of Michigan has committed $100 million to Highland Park for critical improvements, including the replacement of lead service lines and the repair of leaks in the city’s aging pipes. These leaks previously contributed significantly to high water bills for residents over many years and were a major factor in the city's past financial obligations to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). Mayor McDonald identified securing this substantial state funding as her biggest accomplishment to date, noting that children in the community no longer need to worry about lead in their drinking water due to these ongoing replacements.
In addition to infrastructure work, Mayor McDonald has publicly discussed an ongoing dispute with the Great Lakes Water Authority. She indicated that Highland Park believes it has been overcharged by approximately $1.5 million in Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) costs.
GLWA maintains that its billing practices adhere to agreements established with Highland Park in 2024, including the wastewater disposal services contract. This contract sets forth requirements for CSO cost allocation and wastewater treatment services. According to GLWA, the current methodology for allocating CSO costs originated in a 1999 rate settlement agreement and has been consistently applied through subsequent federal orders and agreements with its member partner communities.
To address Highland Park’s concerns regarding these charges, GLWA formed a CSO Cost Pool Task Force. This task force included representatives from its member partner communities, with Highland Park participating in the discussions. The group met regularly from March to July 2026, conducting a technical review of the existing allocation methodology. However, the task force was ultimately unable to reach a consensus on a revised methodology for these costs.
GLWA has stated its disagreement with the premise that an adjustment to Highland Park’s charges is appropriate under the existing agreements. While affirming its commitment to working collaboratively with all member partner communities, including Highland Park, to resolve billing concerns, both parties have agreed to resolve their outstanding disputes through an arbitration process. GLWA has expressed its expectation for a timely and final resolution through this agreed-upon process. The progress on water infrastructure and the resolution of this financial dispute remain key issues as the 2026 mayoral election approaches.