Hillsdale City Mayoral Election: Bentley and Sessions Face Off on Key Issues

Amid tensions between city council and city staff, voters in Hillsdale will head to the polls on November 4 to choose the next mayor, with Ward 2 Councilman Matthew Bentley and former mayor Scott Sessions competing for a one-year term. The election comes as the city grapples with concerns about homelessness, road repairs, and accountability within city government. Both candidates have encouraged students to vote, as the outcome will have significant implications for the city's future.

Key Takeaways:

• The two candidates, Matthew Bentley and Scott Sessions, differ on how they view city staff and criticism within city government, with Sessions blaming Bentley and Mayor Pro Tem Joshua Paladino for creating a "negative culture" in city politics.
• Sessions wants to rebuild trust and culture within the city government by instituting a chain of command, while Bentley believes that city residents should participate more in city politics by joining committees and speaking up at city council meetings.
• The issue of road repairs is a key concern, with the M-99 Traffic Calming Plan, or "road diet," approved by the city council in the summer and allocated $135,000 towards the project in August.
• Bentley has expressed opposition to special assessment districts, which require individual property owners in a designated district to pay up to $5,000 for repairs on their street, and wants to reform the system and lower the residential caps.
• Sessions supports the responsible and equitable use of special assessment districts but wants to bring back the Funding Alternative Identification Recommendation committee to explore sustainable ways to fund infrastructure improvements.
• Concerns about homelessness have reached a new height in recent weeks, with the city removing the Camp Hope structure on October 16, and Sessions wants to partner with local organizations and community leaders to address homelessness in a way that treats homeless people with dignity while also maintaining public safety.
• The city has seen mass resignations, with five city officials resigning since March, and city officials have cited a "negative culture" as a contributing factor.

Statistics:

• 5 city officials have resigned since March, with the city's engineer, zoning administrator, airport manager, and two public utilities supervisors among those who have left the city's employ.
• The city has allocated $135,000 towards the M-99 Traffic Calming Plan, or "road diet," in August.
• Residents in a special assessment district can override the council's approval by collecting letters from a majority of property owners opposed to the special assessment.
• A group of citizens on Barry Street rejected the city's special assessment in April 2025.

Sources:

• Ward 2 Councilman Matthew Bentley
• Former mayor Scott Sessions
• Hillsdale City Council
• The Collegian (previous report on Barry Street special assessment rejection)
• City of Hillsdale (allegation of a "negative culture" in city politics)