WOODHAVEN, Mich. – Woodhaven Mayor Patricia Odette is speaking out amid an investigation into alleged misconduct after submitting and then withdrawing her resignation earlier this month.
Local 4 has confirmed the allegations were brought to the attention of the Woodhaven City Council by Woodhaven City Administrator Jeff Harris.
Harris declined to discuss specific details of the allegations due to the ongoing investigation, but told Local 4 they pertain to misuse of city funds and resources.
During the Woodhaven City Council meeting on April 7, Odette called for an investigation into herself and Harris.
Odette didn’t specifically address the allegations against her, simply saying she felt an investigation was “the most responsible course of action”.
“I am requesting this investigation to include myself and City Administrator Jeff Harris so all matters can be reviewed openly and fairly in accordance with proper procedures,” Odette said. “I believe this is the most responsible course of action so the truth is established, so the integrity of this office and the City Council stays intact.”
In an email sent on April 2, Odette submitted a letter of resignation to the City Council. The letter stated she was resigning from her office effective May 1st. In the letter, Odette said she felt it was the “right time” to step back and focus on family.
Larry Gadd, an attorney representing Odette, said the allegations were “manufactured” by Harris in retaliation over concerns she raised regarding payments to city vendors and contractors.
“At a recent City Council meeting, very dubious allegations were made by City Administrator Jeff Harris regarding Mayor Odette, who has been the mayor for the past 17 years,” Gadd told Local 4. “We believe these issues were manufactured in response to concerns the Mayor expressed about Mr. Harris authorizing payments to certain city vendors and contractors, among other issues.”
In an interview with Local 4, Odette said she believes Harris brought the allegations against her after she raised concerns about funding for a grade separation project on Allen Road.
“Possible no-bid work and the relationships between the vendors and the administration, that was a concern,” Odette said. “Individuals that were working in the city that have businesses that were being paid by the city.”
Harris said the Allen Road project had nothing to do with the allegations against Odette.
Harris told Local 4 he was planning to bring the allegations to the City Council on April 2nd and said he told Odette this on April 1st. He says he was then asked by a city attorney if he would withdraw his request for an investigation if Odette chose to retire, which he said he would.
Odette submitted her resignation letter on April 2, then withdrew it before the April 7 meeting and called for an investigation into herself and Harris.
Odette said that after Harris told her he was bringing the allegations to the City Council, she initially chose to resign but later withdrew the resignation to clear her name.
“I’m 73. I didn’t want to deal with Mr. Harris and his screaming anymore, and his threatening me, and he’s going to ruin my legacy, and so I just decided, you know what, I don’t need this,” Odette told Local 4. “But then I thought more about it and thought no, this needs to come out.”
Harris denied ever threatening Odette, saying he would allow the investigation to speak for itself.
When asked about the circumstances surrounding Odette’s resignation, Gadd gave the following statement to Local 4:
“On or about April 1, Mr. Harris was attempting to strong-arm the Mayor to retire after she began asking him questions about certain financial records.
She initially decided that she would based on her age and 17 years of service, not his threats.
However, she ultimately decided that she wanted to see the Allen Rd project through and was not going to give any credence to his threats or have her integrity called into question.
Thus, she withdrew her resignation, and she requested an independent investigation of herself and Mr. Harris. She has nothing to hide. We will see if the same is true for Mr. Harris.
The Mayor has provided years of selfless and honest service to Woodhaven. The residents of Woodhaven know that. An independent investigation will prove that.”
Larry Gadd, an attorney representing Odette
In a specialty meeting on April 13, the City Council voted to hire attorney Jonathon Rabin to conduct the investigation.
City Attorney Brandon Fournier also provided a statement to Local 4 regarding the investigation.
“The City Council was presented with allegations of misconduct at the April 7, 2026, City Council meeting. The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing an independent investigation into these claims. The City has selected a law firm to conduct the investigation, which shall present its findings at the conclusion of the investigation.”
Woodhaven City Attorney Brandon Fournier
“I want these allegations to come out,” Odette said. “That’s why I came back, and I said, you know what, I’m not resigning – I want these allegations all out in the open so the public can see it and we can see what I see.”