As a lifelong Detroiter, I have truly seen the good, the bad and definitely the ugly. Born and raised in a city full of poverty stricken communities I have seen my fair share of bad times. But I have never seen times like these.
Detroit is on the verge of a state takeover if it can’t get its finances in order quick.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the city has a 17.3 percent unemployment rate, the Detroit Public Schools is struggling to stay afloat and implement new ways to curve the dismal dropout rate percentage. Detroit is ranked number one in violent crime, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Councilwoman Monica Conyers was indicted on bribery charges in federal court. Detroit is on its third mayor in a year and no one seems to know if there was really a party at the Manoogian Mansion that led to the death of stripper Tamara Greene.
We have to think really hard about those that we want in power. Detroiters have finally woken up and stopped voting on name recognition. In the Nov. 3 election, these are some of the best and highly qualified people to run the City Council. I have had the opportunity to view their biographies and listen to them speak.
In voting order, here are my choices for Detroit City Council:
Ken Cockrel, Jr.
Cockrel is a Wayne State graduate and he has led the council and the city in crisis admirably. He has new ideas and is willing to reach across the table and work on new initiatives that will help the city. Cockrel is in favor of urban farming and bottling the city’s water.
Brenda Jones
Jones is a Wayne State graduate. She is the quiet, get-things-done councilwoman. She has been fiscally responsible with the tax payer’s money. Jones has turned unused money back into the city every year.
Andre Spivey
Spivey is a new, badly needed voice at the council table. Spivey is pastor of St. Paul A.M.E church and understands first hand the complaints of those suffering in this city. Spivey supports mayoral control of schools and council by district.
Kwame Kenyatta
Kenyatta was one of the first to step up and call for former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s resignation. Kenyatta makes himself available every day for the residents of Detroit. He is probably one of the most accessible officials.
James Tate
Tate is a Wayne State graduate. He is young and he has seen the issues first hand as a Detroit Police Department spokesman during the turbulent Kilpatrick years. Tate is all about finding new ways to reach out to youth. He started a program that pairs officers with at-risk youth. Tate understands that in order to reduce crime we must look at new ways to reach the youth.
Lisa Howze
Howze is the only certified public accountant in the race. That platform has propelled her into one of my picks. She is desperately needed to look at new ways to analyze the city’s budgets. Howze is in favor of deep departmental audits. As a former auditor for DTE, she will bring those corporate skills to office.
Saunteel Jenkins
Jenkins was chief of staff for the late Maryann Mahaffey. In that role, she saw first hand what it takes to run city government. Jenkins plans are to right-size, or resize, Detroit, giving its population decrline and she wants to work aggressively toward tearing down abandoned houses.
Fred Elliott Hall
Hall is new to the political scene here in Detroit. He has two small businesses that he runs in the city. Hall is in favor of consolidating and closing some city departments as ways to bring down the debt. He is also in favor of council by district.
Gary Brown
Brown is in town. The retired deputy police chief knows a lot about taking on the city’s crime issues. Brown, who is famously known for taking down Kilpatrick in the whistleblower case, is ready to lead. He will be a steady hand on the council to help make key decisions.
My nine candidates can move this city forward and they have backgrounds outside of politics that are essential to making tough decisions on behalf of the residents of Detroit. I am also in favor of council by district.
Forward-thinking is one of the new ways that this new council will make decisions. No more voting based on old ideologies. I included some incumbents in my picks because they showed glimmers of hope, even in the midst of total chaos.
When you think about leadership at the council table, you can see that Cockrel, Jones and Kenyatta led by example by ousting Kilpatrick. We won’t have to worry about some one being called a cartoon character, a council person who doesn’t know if she’s an elected official or a Motown revue star, or a council person who wants to burst out singing a hymn during a council meeting. This group of candidates will work with each other and the suburbs to forge partnerships.
As the saying goes, “If Detroit goes, the state will go right along with it.” Let’s vote on Nov. 3 and give these nine a chance to lead.
Editor’s note: The preceding represents the thoughts, feelings and ideas of the author and does not necessarily represent those of The South End.
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