Candidate Dee Hilbert Wants to Serve as a Citizen's Voice on City Council

Dee Hilbert wants Rochester Hills residents to have a stronger, more respected voice in what's happening in their city.

That's part of what motivates Hilbert — a nurse, mom and community volunteer — to seek election to the Rochester Hills City Council this year.

Hilbert, 53, is running for one of two at-large seats up for election this November.

"I feel the community is in need of more citizen representation on city council, someone who will listen and respect the residents," she said.

"This town is 80 percent residential and feels like, a lot of times, the residents don't have a say in what's going on. Sadly, a lot of residents don't get their questions answered. Sometimes they are treated like an adversary."

Hilbert, an avid biker, said she will work to protect green space, parks and pathways.

"I want people to want to live here. We keep widening the roads, making them into a thoroughfare, which is not desirable," she said.

Running at-large

Rochester Hills is governed by a seven-member, nonpartisan city council; four of the councilmembers are elected by district; three members are elected at-large. Two of those at-large seats are up for election this year.

Besides Hilbert, candidates are Peter Adair, Howard Elandt, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Mark Tisdel and incumbent Michael Webber.

Voters will be asked to elect two candidates on Tuesday. The top four vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Hilbert has been a nurse for 25 years. She works at Beaumont Hospitals. She is married to Kip; they have three children: Laura, 25, Leigh, 23 and Kate, 21.

She volunteers with the and is active in her homeowners' association and with Honor Flight Michigan. She formed the group Citizens' Voice Rochester Hills in 2004 as a way to keep residents informed of local issues.

Hilbert said she wants to ensure the community of Rochester Hills remains viable and affordable.

"Our residents need a bigger voice at the table," she said.

For more information on candidate Dee Hilbert, visit www.deehilbert.com. To read Hilbert's pledge to voters, click .

Editor's note: A version of this story ran in May when Hilbert announced her candidacy.

See our for more candidate profiles and news on the upcoming primary election.