Mayor-elect Sheffield reveals Detroit transition committee leaders
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Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield speaks in front of transition committee co-chairs. Photos: Annalise Frank/Axios
A who's who of powerful Detroit movers and shakers have begun shaping Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield's vision into a first-100-days plan.
Why it matters: These co-chairs of 18 transition committees are tasked with funneling residents' priorities, Sheffield's campaign promises and their own expertise into a newly formed city government, the mayor-elect announced in a press conference Thursday at Marygrove Conservancy.
State of play: Three-term Mayor Mike Duggan exits and Sheffield takes office in January. She described plans to keep some institutional knowledge while welcoming new talent.
Zoom in: The transition committees are led by grassroots, nonprofit, corporate and civic leaders, including several former Duggan execs. They center on topics including neighborhood revitalization, economic development, education, ethics compliance and civil rights.
- Committee leaders include Anika Goss, CEO of think tank Detroit Future City; Gary Torgow, chairman of Huntington National Bank; Arn Tellem, Pistons vice chairman; and Johnnie Turnage, founder of Black Tech Saturdays.
What they're saying: "Housing is a human right," said Donna Givens Davidson, CEO of Eastside Community Network and co-chair of the housing development and planning committee.
- She said she and others have studied best practices in other cities, and she looks forward to helping flesh out ideas to use here alongside Sheffield's team.
- "It's time for neighborhoods to rise, and I'm honored community development organizations represented by people like me now have a seat at the table."
Between the lines: The transition, dubbed Rise Higher Detroit, is led by former top city lawyer Melvin Butch Hollowell and headquartered at Marygrove. Its funding comes from philanthropic sources, and the website's job portal has received around 800 resumes.
- Sheffield called it "the boldest, most rigorous and inclusive transition in Detroit's history, creating an open and people-powered process that … turns community priorities into actionable items for our administration to tackle within the first 100 days."
What's next: Expect more announcements around what her administration will look like — and the date of a public forum.
- Committees are expected to meet at least twice through Dec. 31, Hollowell said.
Go deeper: Read the full list of committee co-chairs