Apr 30, 2025 - Politics
Detroit mayoral hopefuls tackle neighborhood growth
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Mayoral candidates at the forum on Tuesday. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
Five mayoral candidates addressed an ever-present question — "What about the neighborhoods?" — during a Tuesday night forum hosted by union coalition Metro Detroit AFL-CIO.
Here's a portion of what each said:
- City Council President Mary Sheffield: She referenced her track record and said she would use tools like tax incentives to develop outside downtown, and establish neighborhood city halls to bring government to the people.
- Former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins: She'd create a master plan for each of the city's seven districts based on input from residents, with businesses and the city participating and incentives for development.
- Former police chief James Craig: He emphasized he would have a neighborhood focus, and pointed to his track record, saying he knows how to connect with communities from his time as chief.
- Attorney Todd Perkins: He proposes a "neighborhood quarterback" initiative that uses public and private resources, including tax incentives, with individual people or corporations working to carry out plans per neighborhood.
- Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr.: The city first needs to elect leaders who have the "courage" to do what they say and do things differently — not just talk about solutions, as has been done before, but implement them.
The intrigue: Organizer representatives told Axios in an email they invited candidates who came in at or above 4% voter support in a February poll from the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus.
- City council member Fred Durhal III told Axios Saturday it was "disheartening" he wasn't invited to the forum. Durhal was at 1%, per the Michigan Chronicle.
Nine candidates have submitted petitions in the mayor's race. The others are Jonathan Barlow, DaNetta Simpson and Joel Haashiim.