Jan 30, 2025 - Politics

Council member Fred Durhal launches Detroit mayoral campaign

Annalise Frank

Durhal speaks with reporters. — City council member Fred Durhal III at his campaign launch event. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios

City council member Fred Durhal III launched his campaign for mayor Wednesday night, with supporters painting him as a hands-on civil servant whose Lansing history would benefit his hometown.

The big picture: Durhal wants to continue "restoring the promise of our city," while creating paths for homeownership and financial empowerment, he said in a speech at the west-side Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan facility.

Zoom in: Durhal targeted areas like affordable housing, community violence intervention, regional transit and rebuilding commercial corridors.

"I'm unapologetic about development … We need to continue to build the development that helps us build the jobs and build our tax base here, so we can put that money back into our neighborhoods," Durhal said.

Plus, multiple speakers called out Durhal's ties to Lansing, where he was a state representative from 2015-2019.

Tim Greimel, the mayor of Pontiac and a former state representative, said at the event that Durhal was "incredibly effective working with both Democrats and Republicans to bring enormous amounts of resources back home to Detroit."

Zoom out: Other prominent names running for mayor include City Council President Mary Sheffield and former council president and nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins.

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Council member Fred Durhal launches Detroit mayoral campaign

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