AUBURN HILLS (WWJ) -- A man who was elected to a city council seat in an Detroit suburb died shortly after the polls closed Tuesday night.
That's according to the City of Auburn Hills, which revealed the tragic loss "with great sadness" in news release Thursday.
Officials said Greg Ouellette, who won a seat in Tuesday’s election for City Council, passed away on Election Night.
Ouellette was a well-known figure in the Auburn Hills community, having served nearly 28 years on the city’s Planning Commission, the last nearly 17 years as its chairman.
“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,” said City Manager Tom Tanghe.
His wife said that it was Greg’s lifelong dream to be a member of the City Council. She was comforted by the knowledge that he was elected by the citizens of Auburn Hills prior to his death on Tuesday evening.
“I believe that somehow Greg was able to know that he won that election on Tuesday,” she said.
Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development for the city was shocked by the news. “Greg called me on Friday and told me that he had a really good feeling that he was going to win this time,” Cohen said.
Officials did not disclose Ouellette's cause of death.
On Monday, November 17, the new City Council will be sworn in.
City officials said Ouellette's absence "will certainly be noticed" as a chair at the City Council table remains empty.
City Council will recognize Ouellette for his contributions to the community and 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,” said Mayor Brian Marzolf.
It's unclear yet how the open seat will be filled.
The city said council will announce how they plan to move forward with the selection of a new City Councilperson.