Detroit's next mayor brings her mission to City Hall
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Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield speaks Monday night at the Marygrove Conservancy. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios
Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has a mandate to turn the voices of residents into action, starting with a smooth transition of power, the lawyer chairing her transition team tells Axios in an interview.
Why it matters: The city's first mayoral transition in over a decade involves a complex reshuffling of puzzle pieces impacting all facets of local government.
What they're saying: "The transition is an opportunity to take stock of where we are and then put together, in identifiable areas, action plans that can be achieved in the first 100 days, the first year in office and the first term in office," says Melvin "Butch" Hollowell, a Miller Law Firm managing partner.
- Hollowell was part of previous transitions, including outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan's, before leading this one.
State of play: Sheffield takes office Jan. 1. The scope of transition planning, a philanthropically funded effort dubbed Rise Higher Detroit, is large.
- Sheffield named 18 committees involving more than 200 members, per BridgeDetroit, to brainstorm ideas for her administration's vision on topics such as small business, education and transit.
- Sheffield's team will test the committees' ideas for budget, legality and effectiveness, per Hollowell, and send them to Sheffield's desk for consideration.
Zoom in: The new administration must also adjust and set up city departments that'll carry out her mission.
- Sheffield hasn't released her official departmental makeup yet, but openings for jobs on the Rise Higher site give some insight.
- As promised on the campaign trail, she's creating a new department of human, homelessness and family services — as well as naming an official for population and revenue growth.
- Sheffield plans to keep some current leaders while bringing in new voices.
The big picture: The three main pillars for crafting the goals and actions of the new government, per Hollowell, are: following what he calls "Mary Vision," or her campaign's direction for the city's future; national best practices; and committee co-chairs' varied expertise.
Context: Hollowell and Sheffield have called Rise Higher the most community-driven, inclusive transition in the city's — and likely the state's — history.
- "It's been Mary Sheffield's governing philosophy. Just get the very best people, make sure they are reflecting what the people are saying, and execute on those ideas so people understand their wants, their needs, their thoughts are being respected and acted on."
- "I've never seen [a transition] that has this much energy and intensity," he adds.
The incoming administration recently held a brainstorming session with about 65-70 residents who offered ideas and expressed concerns.
- The Rise Higher website also features a public input form.
When the term starts, Sheffield is planning a comprehensive citywide survey and in-person engagement meetings across the city.
The bottom line: "The most important thing for me is not making history [as the first woman mayor]," Sheffield said at the brainstorming event Monday. "It's about delivering and executing for the residents of this city."