Monique Owens (born February 21, 1984[4]) is an American politician and convicted criminal[10][11] who served as the mayor of Eastpointe, Michigan from 2019 to 2023.

[12][13][14][15] Her tenure as mayor was controversial and included a lawsuit alleging that she violated residents' First Amendment rights[16] and a criminal conviction for making false statements on a grant application for her business.

[10][11][33][34][35][36] Owens started her career as a clerical employee with the Detroit Police Department and later served as a Wayne County Sheriff's deputy[37] for 11 years.

[37][42] Earlier that year, the U.S. Department of Justice had filed a lawsuit alleging that the city's election of council members at-large violated the Voting Rights Act.

Owens appealed the board's decision to the Michigan Tax Tribunal, which in February 2023 issued a judgment upholding the city's denial of the exemption.

[56] In October 2021, Eastpointe Community Schools board member Mary Hall-Rayford criticized Owens for her behavior at the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Museum.

MMTHS board member Wendy Richardson said that she filmed Owens' visit using a cell phone due to legal concerns.

[6][7] On June 18, Owens attended the opening ceremonies of Cruisin' Gratiot, an annual car cruise hosted by a nonprofit in Eastpointe.

Harvey Curley, an 80 year-old longtime Cruisin' Gratiot board member who is also a city councilman, then confronted Owens.

[64] On September 23, 2022, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Rachel Rancilio denied Owens’s request, saying in her decision that no evidence was taken at the hearing that would demonstrate that Curley is dangerous.

[67] The Detroit Free Press endorsed her opponent in the primary, citing Owens' "oddly malleable" values and expressing concern that she may switch her party affiliation again.

[68][69][70] During the 2022 state senate campaign, Owens claimed in a Ballotpedia candidate survey that she had a bachelor's degree in political science.

[72] In 2022, Owens was named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit alleging that she violated the civil rights of four constituents by interrupting or censoring their remarks during public comment time at council meetings.

[19][78][79][80] On November 9, 2022, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, naming Owens and the City of Eastpointe as defendants.

[16][63][73][74][75][76][77] On December 8, 2022, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, which the City agreed to, prohibiting Owens from shouting down speakers or restricting the subject matter of their remarks.

[20] On January 30, 2023, the Ethics Board directed the city manager to issue a formal letter to Owens requesting that she submit her annual disclosure statements for 2021 and 2022 within 30 days.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office alleged that she fraudulently applied for a COVID relief grant for her business and received $10,000 from the program.

[93][32] In response to remarks made by Owens at sentencing, Judge Jennifer Faunce questioned the defendant's remorsefulness and suggested that she was grandstanding.

Mike Klinefelt and Mary Hall-Rayford, one of the plaintiffs in the civil rights lawsuit against Owens, proceeded to the general election.