Detroit election Trail Mix: Dark money, tough choices
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Welcome back to our regular political news roundup. As of tomorrow, we'll be four weeks out from the election.
🙋 Endorsement roundup: The Detroit News, which endorsed former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins in the mayoral primary, now endorses Council President Mary Sheffield in the general election.
- The publication agrees with Mayor Mike Duggan, who also endorsed her, that Sheffield has shown effective, qualified leadership on City Council.
- The News wrote that the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. is "also an attractive candidate" who impressively grew Triumph Church, but expressed concern about Kinloch leading the church while serving as mayor.
Plus, the Michigan Chronicle also endorsed Sheffield, writing her platform is thoughtful and her "vision is focused on the people and neighborhoods too often left behind."
- In the primary, the Chronicle endorsed both Sheffield and Jenkins.
😬 "Poor choices": The News also made a round of City Council endorsements, notably hemming and hawing over Police Commissioner Willie Burton and Renata Miller in District 5. The publication wrote "they each have troubling backgrounds" and "we fear neither has the ideal temperament to serve on the council."
- It said that "of the two poor choices," it would pick Burton for his police commission experience.
- Read more about each candidate.
😶🌫️ "Dark money": Some Sheffield ads are being funded by Detroit Next PAC, which got much of its cash from a nonprofit "dark money" group, BridgeDetroit reports.
- Sheffield's campaign said in a statement it sees no issues with financial support from the "tools and financial vehicles permitted by law."