Ward 3 Council Member, City of Ypsilanti · Mayoral Candidate, August 4, 2026 · 320 Vinewood Ct
Role & Position
Amber Fellows is the sitting Ward 3 Council Member (term runs through 2028) and the challenger to Mayor Nicole Brown in the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary. She filed on April 20, 2026 — one day before the deadline. She previously ran against Brown in 2022 and lost 76%-to-24%.
The China Trip — October 17, 2017
On October 17, 2017, Fellows stood at the public comment microphone at a Ypsilanti City Council meeting and demanded accountability for a trip to China that city officials had taken. The trip was organized through a Wayne State University student group as a pass-through, funded by developer Amy Foster. Mayor Pro-Tem Nicole Brown was a passenger. The city attorney warned in writing that the arrangement was "unethical and illegal." Fellows demanded staff be fired.
No staff were fired. No formal discipline was imposed. Brown and Fellows now serve together on the same council and have voted together on $1 million spending packages. They are now opponents in a mayoral race.
Documented Connections
2026 Mayoral Race — vs. Nicole Brown
Fellows is the first documented challenger to Brown from within the existing council structure. Her filing on April 20 — one day before the deadline — signals a late decision. Her Ward 3 seat runs through 2028, meaning she holds her council seat regardless of the mayoral race outcome.
Brian Geiringer — Campaign Connection
Geiringer (A2P2) is documented as connected to the Fellows campaign. Geiringer was also involved in 2020 protest organizing alongside Trische Duckworth following the Sha'Teina Grady El incident.
Encampment Vote
Fellows is expected to vote against Resolution 240 on Tuesday June 16 — the encampment removal resolution — ideologically aligned with Mayor Simmons. Council Member King has publicly called for removal; McLean is expected to vote yes; Brown's position is uncertain after visiting the encampment with King.
Desiraé Simmons — Ideological Alignment
Fellows and Simmons represent adjacent Ward 3 positions (Simmons is Mayor Pro-Tem / Council Member, Ward 3). The Ypsilantian has documented Fellows as likely to follow Simmons ideologically on contested votes.
The Contradiction
Fellows demanded accountability for the China trip in 2017. She then served alongside Brown for years on council, voting together on significant spending. She is now running against Brown on an accountability platform. The question The Ypsilantian has not yet answered: what specific accountability measures does Fellows support that she has not already voted against as a council member?