WARREN (WWJ) -- Michiganders can expect a bit of a disturbance in Lansing as two state Representatives will be changing offices after winning mayoral races.
State Rep. Lori Stone was elected mayor in Warren, Michigan's third most populous city, defeating George Dimas by a tight margin of just around 1,400 votes — with strong support from the UAW. She will be the Warren's first female mayor.
Stone, 43, will be Warren's first female mayor and the city's first new mayor in 16 years after longtime Mayor Jim Fouts' reign will end due to new term-limits. After four-year terms as mayor of Warren, Fouts fought a losing battle in the courts to get back on the ballot, and eventually endorsed Dimas — the city's former Human Resources Director.
Also on Tuesday, State Rep. Kevin Coleman won handily in Westland in the race to succeed longtime Mayor William Wild.
Both Stone and Coleman are Democrats and must step down from their current seats in the State House to take on their new roles. When that happens, the State House will have 54 Democrats and 54 Republicans.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will have to call for special elections to fill the open seats.
So will that hurt the Democratic agenda in Lansing?
"The legislature won't be meeting until the earliest January February," Coleman told WWJ's Charlie Langton. "And and I know the governor was planning on calling special elections to fill these seats pretty quick. So it means a short break for our legislators."
"And with this district being a strong democratic district, I don't see a change in hands," Coleman added. "That's really not in the cards."
Coleman said he got about three hours of sleep, but he was driving up to Lansing while speaking with Langton.
Looking ahead, Coleman said he's looking forward to getting started, and putting together "the best team possible for the citizens of Westland."
"We have a lot of great talent here; I want to hire from within the city," Coleman said. "We have some great people already working here, so we're going to retain some of those people as well. I'm excited to put that team together and get the ball rolling."
Coleman said he could be sworn in as mayor of Westland as early as next week.
Stone did not immediately respond to Langton's requests for comment.
In other Metro Detroit mayoral races:
• Voters in Livonia voted to retain their first female mayor, Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan, who was elected to a second 4-year term.
• Michele Hodges will keep her seat as mayor in Grosse Pointe Park
• Royal Oak incumbent Michael Fournier won his re-election bid.
• Novi elected Justin Fischer as their new mayor
• Ferndale elected Raylon Leaks May their new mayor.