Detroit City General Election:11/5/13 - Vote doesn't mean a damn thing but...

I'm starting with city wide and then try to break down the district races in subsequent posts.

Might be a little difficult. Hard to find info on the candidates for police commission. The Detroit election page is a mess, and the mainstream media isn't one iota better.

MAYOR

Not gonna spend too much time on this. Story has been beaten to death.

Michael Duggan vs Benny Napoleon
http://www.webmaillist.com/mb/admin/...n_napoleon.jpg

I'm going for Mike, but I'm sure either will be better than the absolute fucking GARBAGE we've had sitting in office since May 09.

City Clerk

Janice Winfrey
http://www.clickondetroit.com/image/...infrey-jpg.jpg
She crushed the field. Her nearest competition who she'll be going against in the general

D. Etta Wilcoxon
https://d2nyfqh3g1stw3.cloudfront.ne...__Fox_8234.jpg

I didn't vote for either of these people. I've been openly critical of Winfrey's many, many fuckups in this election.

HOWEVER...I'm gonna have to vote for her in November. When the choice is horseshit or cowshit, whatcha gonna do?

Interesting thread title Brizee

Thread title = wrong. This vote is as important as any ever held. During challenging times leadership is crucial.

Sure, the office doesn't have spending authority. But there's more to do in Detroit than spend. Leadership matters a lot.

City Council At-Large

Incumbents ruled the day

Saunteel Jenkins
http://rolandmartinreports.com/wp-co...eelJenkins.jpg

Brenda Jones
http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content...enda-Jones.jpg

The establishment will be going up against.

David Bullock
http://bloggingformichigan.com/wp-co...vidBullock.jpg

Roy Mcallister
http://i0.wp.com/detroitelections.co...mccalister.jpg

I don't want to vote for any incumbents. And I def won't be voting for anyone that went along with the consent decree. I don't really want to vote for a preacher either.

I suppose it's going to be McCallister and reluctantly Jones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brizee

City Council At-Large

Incumbents ruled the day

Saunteel Jenkins
http://rolandmartinreports.com/wp-co...eelJenkins.jpg

Brenda Jones
http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content...enda-Jones.jpg

The establishment will be going up against.

David Bullock
http://bloggingformichigan.com/wp-co...vidBullock.jpg

Roy Mcallister
http://i0.wp.com/detroitelections.co...mccalister.jpg

I don't want to vote for any incumbents. And I def won't be voting for anyone that went along with the consent decree. I don't really want to vote for a preacher either.

I suppose it's going to be McCallister and reluctantly Jones.

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You could just NOT vote for that section.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brizee

HOWEVER...I'm gonna have to vote for her in November. When the choice is horseshit or cowshit, whatcha gonna do?

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Horse shit is much easier to clean up than cow shit

District 1
http://images.scribblelive.com/2013/...82afd919ed.jpg

City Council

James Tate
http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content...-7-12-Tate.jpg
Incumbents ran wild this year, and this was no exception.

Wanda Jan Hill
http://wandajanhill4detcouncil.webs....201%200406.JPG
District 1 was pretty stacked with talent from what I could tell. Again I wouldn't vote for an incumbent but that's just my opinion.

Police Commisioner

Alvin Bowman
http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.d...9160397&Ref=V4
He was the only candidate. No primary, unopposed.

Special shoutout to the Detroit city website and both dailies for thier lack of coverage on the commisioner's race.

ummm jenkins all day, she gets it

District 2
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-7XCN0A1L...strict2Map.jpg
City Council

George Cushingberry
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wenuozA4HP...h2009Feb22.jpg
The frontrunner. He won with a comfortable but no nearly insignificant over several candidates.

Richard Bowers
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...91780026_n.jpg

District 2 is another one spoiled for choice. I voted Bowers, but I wouldn't have a problem either way.

Police Commissioner

Wendell Byrd
N/A

James Knox
N/A

Only two candidates so there was no primary. Finding information is like plucking teeth. Freep/detnews, great job.

District 3
http://images.scribblelive.com/2013/...35a3c06214.jpg

City Council

Scott Benson
http://ebmedia.eventbrite.com/s3-s3/...95535603-1.jpg
[[Helpful if the picture is actually of him. Thanks)
Frontrunner with another decent but not unbeatable lead.

Francine Adams
http://electfrancineadams.info/uploa...66996_orig.jpg

Police Commissioner

Reginald Crawford
No pic.

Jerome Record
No pic.

No primary again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

Thread title = wrong. This vote is as important as any ever held. During challenging times leadership is crucial.

Sure, the office doesn't have spending authority. But there's more to do in Detroit than spend. Leadership matters a lot.

---

Entirely agreed, WM. First, the city's elected leaders will still be instrumental in restructuring government. As has been noted here, Kevin Orr's job- love him or hate him- is not to fix our city. It is to put the government's affairs in order, and the associated policies and programs that are a part of that. Then he will go away, almost certainly before the next mayor & council's terms are over. Second, when he does go away, our elected leaders are back in charge. I am hoping that they are both stronger and more constructive than their predecessors were. And I hope they realize Kevin Orr did a lot of the dirty work for them. Spending other people's [[or future resident's) money is the easiest thing in the world. Cutting is hard and painful and unpleasant and entirely necessary. I hope that they never take the easy way again.

District 4
http://cmsimg.citizen-times.com/apps...uncil-election

City Council

Andre Spivey
http://i2.wp.com/detroitelections.co.../06/spivey.jpg

Another triumphant incumbent. Hiss numbers however were not nearly as impressive as the others.

Bettie Cook Scott
http://www.our-morningside.org/blog/...Cook-Scott.jpg

No opinion on either. All incumbents get the fuck out however.

Police Commissioner

Willie Bell
N/A

Henry Williams
N/A

What! An actual primary? And it was pretty damn close too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brizee

District 3
http://images.scribblelive.com/2013/...35a3c06214.jpg

City Council

Scott Benson
http://votescottbenson.biz/wp-conten...er-590x400.jpg

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Is this Angelo Henderson?

District 5
http://www.adamhollier.com/wp-conten...strict-Map.jpg
City Council

Adam Hollier
http://www.adamhollier.com/wp-conten...6/IMG_1861.jpg

Mary Sheffield
https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images...8c8e04592.jpeg

Another close one [[decided by less than 60 votes). Besides one being a cutie-pie I don't see any huge diffrences [[of course not being my district I didn't look) and wouldn't have a huge problem with either.

Police Commissioner

Marcelus Brice
http://votesmart.org/canphoto/123082_lg.jpg

Willie Burton
http://www.detroitcitycouncil.net/im...e_e_burton.jpg

A primary!? Pictures!?! Actual campaign material!?!?!?

I'm going to assume Mary Sheffield is related to Rev. Horace Sheffield [[daughter?), yes?

It's just a hunch of mine.

And as far as Adam Hollier, I guess the thrill of being the Communications Liaison for the Mayor has run its course.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 313WX

I'm going to assume Mary Sheffield is related to Rev. Horace Sheffield [[daughter?), yes?

It's just a hunch of mine.

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yes !! she is related

District 6

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...95362090_n.jpg
City Council

Raquel Castaneda-Lopez
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L...PJlA/photo.jpg

Isaac Robinson
http://reddoordigital.com/isaac/wp-c...saac-photo.jpg

Another very close one. Lopez has a relationship with state rep Rashide Tlaib, which might soon be state senator Tlaib. Maybe something to consider?

Police Commissioner

Jim Holley
N/A

Kevin Tolbert
N/A

Only two candidates.

It is interesting that we could have our first Hispanic City Council member in the city of Detroit since forever.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by firstandten

yes !! she is related

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Ah yes, that explains it. The Good Rev. pimps his sexy daughter [[versus his son who has the same name) to the male voters in his district to increase her chances of getting elected so he can use her as a tool to try and maintain what's left of the Kwame Kilpatrick stench.

EDIT: Mary is apparently a minister too.

District 7

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wD4vWBwswJ...rict+7+Map.JPG

City Council

Gabriel Leland

http://jewinthed.com/wp-content/uplo...ty-Council.png

Pretty solid but closeable gap.

John K. Bennet

http://bennettfordetroit.com/uploads...jpg?1377999821

Leland is a former state rep, Bennet is a veteran cop and muckraker. Career politician maybe with some rub? Or a political novice with experience on the front lines? No problem with either.

Police Commissioner

Ricardo Moore
N/A

Tijuana Morris
N/A

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brizee

District 5
Willie Burton
http://www.detroitcitycouncil.net/im...e_e_burton.jpg

A primary!? Pictures!?! Actual campaign material!?!?!?

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i've even seen his signs around!

Nice work Brizee. You have done a good job of putting the spaces and faces together in a comprehensible, informative and, dare I say, breezy manner.

I do think votes make do make a damn thing, and a lot more. You obviously do too as you are both highly informed and active. Whenever I go to vote, especially if the weather sucks, I use my walking time to remember those who were denied the right to vote - women, the man without property, the slave, the illiterate, the Jim Crow law victims of all races who were [and arguably still are] being disenfranchised and finally the soldier painfully dying alone defending the right to vote that the soldier will never get to do again.

I don't favor a 'vote or get fined' law, like in Australia, but I would favor a rule, similar to what is done in some democracies, where if more than 60% of the electorate fails to vote, the election must be re-held perhaps with different candidates. Not voting would then be a vote.

As for Duggan vs. Napoleon, I think it is race between the best of those who chose to run and Detroit will be well-served by either.

Detroit police breaks for Benny. Duh.

Wayne County prosecutor endorses Mike Duggan oh Benny also.

Detroit Firefighters push Duggan though.

Duggan still massively leads Napoleon according to a most recent poll.

HOWEVER...

A recent court decision was made [[which the state appealed) has ordered the state to release the names of all EM candidates.

Which Robert Davis alleges Mike Duggan was actively aiming for. If true it WILL torpedo his entire campaign, and maybe his political future in the region.

One last lawsuit has also been filed to keep Duggan off of the ballot in 11 days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brizee

Detroit police breaks for Benny. Duh.

Wayne County prosecutor endorses Mike Duggan oh Benny also.

Detroit Firefighters push Duggan though.

Duggan still massively leads Napoleon according to a most recent poll.

HOWEVER...

A recent court decision was made [[which the state appealed) has ordered the state to release the names of all EM candidates.

Which Robert Davis alleges Mike Duggan was actively aiming for. If true it WILL torpedo his entire campaign, and maybe his political future in the region.

One last lawsuit has also been filed to keep Duggan off of the ballot in 11 days.

---

Duggan has said they did approach him about being the EM.. all that's going to come out is that he was being considered and his name was on the list.. that's it... he admits they contacted him and he said flat out 'no'... he actually said he wants the emails and letters released to prove it

nothing is going to torpedo his campaign from that front

District 5 weighing in. Hollier seems a good choice and the more I see of Duggan the more impressed I am. He has an impressive campaign team and if he gets the same level of commitment from staff as mayor, I am sold.

Still think I got that "blight" ticket because of my Duggan sign. Finally got my day in court and everyone seemed too embarrassed to read charges, flat tire [[It wasn't)! Got dismissed but what a huge annoyance.

Yes voting is very important.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sumas

District 5 weighing in. Hollier seems a good choice and the more I see of Duggan the more impressed I am. He has an impressive campaign team and if he gets the same level of commitment from staff as mayor, I am sold.

Still think I got that "blight" ticket because of my Duggan sign. Finally got my day in court and everyone seemed too embarrassed to read charges, flat tire [[It wasn't)! Got dismissed but what a huge annoyance.

Yes voting is very important.

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I voted for Hollier in the primary, although it was a close decision. However, after seeing the MIVote debate on Detroit Public TV, Sheffield won me over. Hollier spent most of his time repeating his qualifications, while Sheffield identified problems and linked them with solutions. Also, Hollier seemed to promote development above all else, while Sheffield appeared to have safety as her top priority, but also addressed several more. Finally, while both candidates were gracious and pretty tame, Sheffield did show some spunk and assertiveness at one point which gave me the feeling she is more about working for the citizens than moving her career forward.

They're both young, pretty-well qualified and motivated. But in the end, Hollier struck me as a politician, while Sheffield was more a community activist.

Sheffield came around, knocking door to door a few times. I liked her. I think she got a little jaded cause she said tell me about your concerns that aren't blight, crime or streetlight related.???? So I said car insurance but if the other three are not addressed than of of course we will have high rates.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sumas

Sheffield came around, knocking door to door a few times. I liked her. I think she got a little jaded cause she said tell me about your concerns that aren't blight, crime or streetlight related.???? So I said car insurance but if the other three are not addressed than of of course we will have high rates.

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Perhaps she asked because those are well known needs to be addressed and she wants to be aware of other concerns of the community also.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by downtownguy

Perhaps she asked because those are well known needs to be addressed and she wants to be aware of other concerns of the community also.

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Duh! Here's more concerns, wild dog packs, idiots in charge, car theft, fire bugs, ridiculous property taxes, Clownsil, un-mowed prairie, jacked up car stereos, drug houses, drugs being sold out of businesses, litter, pan handlers, and of course I could go on.

My neighborhood is sweet and we kind of police ourselves.

For the folks living in District 5, could you tell me a bit more about Adam Hollier? Other than the fact that he was an Executive Liasion to the Mayor's Office during City Council meetings, what else qualifies him to be a City Council member? I don't know much else about him.

I already shared my fears about Mary Sheffield earlier. The fact that she's connected to the Kwame/McNamara machine via Horace Sheffield suggests she may be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brizee

District 6

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...95362090_n.jpg
City Council

Raquel Castaneda-Lopez
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L...PJlA/photo.jpg

Isaac Robinson
http://reddoordigital.com/isaac/wp-c...saac-photo.jpg

Another very close one. Lopez has a relationship with state rep Rashide Tlaib, which might soon be state senator Tlaib. Maybe something to consider?

Police Commissioner

Jim Holley
N/A

Kevin Tolbert
N/A

Only two candidates.

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I'm still not sure which way I'm going here in District 6, as both candidates are interesting. It's hard to judge a candidate based on their campaign material and speeches. The proof is in what they actually do when it's time to make tough decisions on complicated issues.

I completely disagree with the assertion that this vote doesn't matter. The EM is going to be gone less then a year into the the four-year terms of our newly elected city officials, so this vote is crucial to ensure that we have quality city leaders who can take over the reins from the EM when he steps down.

To be sure, they won't have much official authority for the first 8-9 months of their terms, but they will be very important for the following 3+ years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sumas

Sheffield came around, knocking door to door a few times. I liked her. I think she got a little jaded cause she said tell me about your concerns that aren't blight, crime or streetlight related.???? So I said car insurance but if the other three are not addressed than of of course we will have high rates.

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I'd have said political corruption and entitlement. Clownsil and Mayor need to take massive pay and benefits cuts. No bodyguards, no city vehicles, minimal staff for the Clowns. Tie their pay to the average wage for their district residents and local business revenues. I imagine some districts wouldn't be paid much. If they want a raise, work to bring jobs and viable businesses to their district residents.

Also, much tighter citizen oversight of DPD and DFD. Does the Police Commission actually have anything to do with DPD? Do they oversee policy, training and spending? Do they have anything to do with discipline and internal affairs actions?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 313WX

For the folks living in District 5, could you tell me a bit more about Adam Hollier? Other than the fact that he was an Executive Liasion to the Mayor's Office during City Council meetings, what else qualifies him to be a City Council member? I don't know much else about him.

I already shared my fears about Mary Sheffield earlier. The fact that she's connected to the Kwame/McNamara machine via Horace Sheffield suggests she may be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

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While none of us want to repeat the Kilpatrick years, the fact is there are political machines in most cities, and sometimes you can't throw a stone far enough to miss one them. I prefer to use that as but one of the criterion in judging a candidate's qualifications. After all, Mike Duggan also came from the same McNamara machine that churned out so many of our current and past leaders, including Kilpatrick.

That said, I will repeat what I said earlier. Hollier [[he pronounces his name with a French twist: "Oye-yea") sounded like he was leaning mostly on his prior employment, and not necessarily on specific credentials or a grasp of the issues and wishes of his constituency. He took a lot of credit for getting M-1 Rail in place. Really? I wonder if his boss at the time, State Senator Bert Johnson might have played a role, too?

In the end, it was a gut reaction to the fact that Sheffield was not parroting campaign-speak that stood out to me. While I don't doubt either one of them has political aspirations beyond City Council, Shefflield seemed to have a more genuine interest in her community, while Hollier came of as self-aggrandizing.

The new council gets ready to be seated in a few weeks.

Hopefully Brenda Jones gets selected over Saunteel Jenkins for president.

I'm reasonably optimistic about this group, but again the GOP is running this city at least until the gubernatorial election next November.

The Repubs will be trying to run the City for a lot longer.

Most people don't realize that there is a bit of a "grace" period in this EM shit whereas once the EM leaves the City, the State, within a certain amount of time after they leave, can re-install the EM if they feel like the City isn't going in the "right direction". You, me and everyone in this area knows that if the State can manufacture another situation to drive Detroit into EM, the State will. Especially if the Republicans loose big in 2014 -- it'll be a scorched Earth policy not seen since WWII.

So, this story ain't over. Look how many times cities have gone through the revolving EM door through this State. EM is not a cure, it's being used as a weapon to hurt anyone who isn't a Christian and Republican.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

The Repubs will be trying to run the City for a lot longer.

Most people don't realize that there is a bit of a "grace" period in this EM shit whereas once the EM leaves the City, the State, within a certain amount of time after they leave, can re-install the EM if they feel like the City isn't going in the "right direction". You, me and everyone in this area knows that if the State can manufacture another situation to drive Detroit into EM, the State will. Especially if the Republicans loose big in 2014 -- it'll be a scorched Earth policy not seen since WWII.

So, this story ain't over. Look how many times cities have gone through the revolving EM door through this State. EM is not a cure, it's being used as a weapon to hurt anyone who isn't a Christian and Republican.

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They don't even have to go through that.

If the state board and governor don't agree with the council and mayor the EM doesn't leave in the first place. No matter how many times people trot out this 18 month lie.

It sucks being apart of someone elses expirement. Which is what these Emergency Managers are in this state since a success can't be pointed to.

The EAA is another petri dish for the inner city. Which is for another thread I'm putting together.