Doctor named to fill Grosse Pointe City Council vacancy

GROSSE POINTE CITY — When the Grosse Pointe City Council holds its next meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 inside its municipal courtroom/council chambers, there will be a new face at the table.

Following the resignation of longtime City Councilman John Stempfle in June — he was moving out of the community — the council voted unanimously July 11 in favor of naming Seth Krupp to fill the vacancy.

Krupp, 44, has lived in the City for the last eight years. He’s an emergency room doctor for Henry Ford Health and the vice chair of operations for Henry Ford Hospital. He’s also the father of three children — two daughters, ages 6 and 9, and an 11-year-old son. His wife, Julie, works for a nonprofit.

Krupp was selected from a pool of candidates who had filed to fill a vacancy in 2020, which is when City Councilwoman Maureen Juip was appointed. Juip was reelected in 2021 for a four-year term.

“I had been thinking about it for a while,” Krupp said of becoming a council member. “The timing for me right now was perfect.”

Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said Krupp was “very well received” by the council in 2020.

“I was just very honored and excited to get a second chance to get put on the council, and I’m certainly excited to get to work with everyone on the council and in the City,” Krupp said.

City Councilman Terence Thomas thanked Krupp “for agreeing to serve,” a sentiment echoed by other elected officials.

“Seth, we’re excited to have you,” City Councilman Christopher Walsh said.

A native of Fostoria, Ohio, Krupp graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio State University in June 2001. He then graduated from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine in June 2005.

Krupp said he’s especially interested in the City’s Urban Forestry Commission. He believes the skills he uses when doing administrative work at the hospital — including long-term planning, listening and balancing diverse interests — will help him in his new role as a council member.

“I love the City,” Krupp said. “I think it’s a great place to raise a family, and I want to keep it that way for my family and future generations.”

Krupp will serve the rest of Stempfle’s term, which had been slated to expire in November 2023.

Krupp, who also teaches emergency medicine, said this is the first time he’s sought an elected office. He said he would be “very interested in running” for reelection next fall.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the people and (finding) ways to make the City a better place,” Krupp said.