Mike Duggan for Detroit Mayor

**jpbollma** · July-02-12, 09:58 AM

Do we have any others in the running that would do better than Bing or Duggan? I only know of them, Pugh and Fieger. Pugh and Fieger are both attention whores. In my opinion they would both be horrible.

**dmike76** · July-02-12, 10:57 AM

I don't think as many people will care if Duggan's white if he can fix some of the city's problems. I'm not a huge Duggan fan, but I'm willing to give him a shot if he runs a solid campaign. Bing hasn't shown much in his first term. Charles Pugh....I just don't trust that guy to be a leader. He's more worried about his abs than what people in the city want. Feiger's not going to run so I think he's out of this discussion.

**jpbollma** · July-02-12, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by dmike76

I don't think as many people will care if Duggan's white if he can fix some of the city's problems. I'm not a huge Duggan fan, but I'm willing to give him a shot if he runs a solid campaign. Bing hasn't shown much in his first term. Charles Pugh....I just don't trust that guy to be a leader. He's more worried about his abs than what people in the city want. Feiger's not going to run so I think he's out of this discussion.

Pugh can't even keep his own finances in order, why would anyone trust him with Detroit's?

**swiburn** · July-05-12, 06:54 PM

I'm not sure why anybody would want to be mayor of Detroit. I guess it's just another challenge,just like Romney wants to be president. I mean,who would want to deal with Joann Watson?

**DetroitPlanner** · July-02-12, 11:01 AM

Count Scary for Mayor!

**jackie5275** · July-02-12, 11:17 AM

Correct me if I'm mistaken, which I know folks will do, but I thought Duggan was on the board when the schools were under State control, & he did alot to get many of the school buildings into better shape.

**Hypestyles** · July-02-12, 11:55 AM

so we're probably looking at what, circa november 2012 for an announcement?

**downtownguy** · July-02-12, 12:37 PM

A source close to Duggan said the former mayor [[Archer) made it clear to the potential candidate that he supports Bing if he runs.
"If Dave Bing solves the problems everybody wants [[to solve) together … if Dave Bing decides he wants to run again, nobody can beat him. Period," Archer said.

It appears Archer is still smoking that stuff that led to his decision to put the casinos on the riverfront.

**downtownguy** · July-02-12, 12:56 PM

In my wacky fantasy world, I've harbored this wish that Edsel Ford II would run for mayor. He could run the city with a take-no-prisoners approach, would appeal to black and white alike, has a strong financial background and a genuine interest in civic affairs [[Chair of the Detroit 300 Conservancy, among others).

He's already got money and power, so he could focus on getting the job done. He would be able to attract a team of leaders second to none. He's young enough to have the energy that Bing seems to lack and a sensitivity to labor that might get him endorsements from some unions [[talk about strange bedfellows).

Of course, residency would be a problem, but I've got a solution for that, too. His first official act would be to annex the Pointes. Voila, residency! [[and a stronger tax base, too!)

That's all from the Outer Limits. I now return control of your television set to you.

**Locke09** · July-02-12, 02:24 PM

In spite of what the venerable Peter Drucker said, the primary goal of business in this capitalist society is to make money [[profit) - serving the customer is a means to making money, not the other way around. And it had better be ever increasing profits, otherwise your stock will be downgraded by Wall Street.

If it was just a matter of serving the customer, then businesses would be non-profit. They would only charge what is necessary to pay employees and produce what the customer needs, perhaps reserving some also for new products or product improvement. Because if your primary goal is to serve the customers, and you find that you are making a lot of profit doing so, you would use that profit to either lower costs or improve employee pay/benefits. But that's not what they do is it? Of course not, they look for increasing profits every quarter.

The goal of government is to "secure the general welfare" of the people. Money, in the form of revenue, is the means by which government can do this.

Government can borrow some good practices from business, but government is not business. Many a good businessman has found himself overwhelmed by the responsibilities of managing a sector of government.

**corktownyuppie** · July-02-12, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Locke09

Government can borrow some good practices from business, but government is not business. Many a good businessman has found himself overwhelmed by the responsibilities of managing a sector of government.

I agree with the totality of your analysis. My point was more to counter the idea some of have implied that businesses exist to take advantage of their customers and employees in a never-ending quest to take more for themselves. That may be the plan for some businesses, but it is a short-sighted strategy at best.

One thing you say is that Government can borrow some good practices from businesss. When I [[and most people on this board, I would bet) say that government needs to be run like a business, I believe that the words you used are a better way to articulate that meaning.

Detroit doesn't need to be run like a business for profit. But it absolutely needs to take the best practices from business and apply them. It's literally like we are still using out-dated practices from 1955 and wondering why our services suck.

Lastly, yes, many a good businessman will be overwhelmed in government because of the bottom-up nature of government operations. I'd love to see how well any businessman does if all of his or her decisions are subject to a majority vote of its employees and customers.

**jackie5275** · July-02-12, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Detroit doesn't need to be run like a business for profit. But it absolutely needs to take the best practices from business and apply them. It's literally like we are still using out-dated practices from 1955 and wondering why our services suck.

Well, first of all, business & government need to stop operating on buzz words & phrases like best practices, proactive, strategic planning, pushback, etc. These "ideas" don't generate positive operational stability in the long run.
I don't think Detroit is using outdated practices from 1955 or even 1975 because if they were, everything there would be done manually without computers. But yes, they are operating on old processes & procedures. The big problem with City government needing to change is that they employ far too many people needed to do the job the old way. Updating their procedures would probably improve services, but cut staff as not that many would be needed. Nobody over there is brave enough to lay off the number of people needed to see significant expenditure reduction. This is why they choose to stay mired in the past.

GUSHI · July-02-12, 08:26 PM

I can't see Detroit putting a white man in office, not in my life time,

**Motor City Sam** · July-03-12, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by GUSHI

I can't see Detroit putting a white man in office, not in my life time,

I said the same thing for decades about the US electing a Black president.

**firstandten** · July-03-12, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by GUSHI

I can't see Detroit putting a white man in office, not in my life time,

I believe Mr. Duggan can win. Detroit has a history of putting whites on the council with huge vote totals. The whites who have run for mayor since CAY were fringe types. Duggan is a legit candidate who will be formitable.

**Gannon** · July-04-12, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by firstandten

I believe Mr. Duggan can win. Detroit has a history of putting whites on the council with huge vote totals. The whites who have run for mayor since CAY were fringe types. Duggan is a legit candidate who will be formitable.

Oh, he's formiDable, alright.

Thanks, dictionary.com:

for·mi·da·ble [fawr-mi-duh-buhl] adjective

1. causing fear, apprehension, or dread: a formidable opponent.
2. of discouraging or awesome strength, size, difficulty, etc.; intimidating: a formidable problem.
3. arousing feelings of awe or admiration because of grandeur, strength, etc.
4. of great strength; forceful; powerful: formidable opposition to the proposal.

He has been described as McNamara's "Hatchet Man" who has an odd teflon coating so all that shit doesn't stick.

I don't trust the guy, and cannot find any reason why anyone else should do so...especially with the city's future.

Most certainly, he would continue old McNamara schemes and tendencies.

No Mike Duggan in government any longer, in any way, shape, or form.

Mike Duggan for janitor, maybe. Even then, somebody'd have to keep a close eye on him!

Sincerely,
John

**hortonz** · July-03-12, 11:10 AM

Enough with the Democrats! How about electing a Republican mayor. Now THAT would be a REAL change.

**internet_pseudopod** · July-03-12, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by hortonz

Enough with the Democrats! How about electing a Republican mayor. Now THAT would be a REAL change.

Yeah, that will have a remote chance of happening when taking cheap pot shots at Detroit stops being part of the Michigan Republican platform.

**Detroitgayhistoryguy** · July-03-12, 02:15 PM

I don't think Pugh has a chance. When he was first elected, most black Detroit people didn't know that he is Gay. It is more well known now and would become more of an issue if he runs for mayor. The black people in Detroit who vote are bible thumping and very, very anti-gay. That said, I don't think he is the right guy for the job anyway. I'm gay and I'm not going to vote for someone just because they are gay. I want someone who is going to get S**t done.

**Lowell** · July-04-12, 07:16 PM

Outstanding, thought-provoking and informative exchange Richard, Corktownyuppie and mam2009! [Returning to my lurker popcorn bowl]

**hortonz** · July-05-12, 10:00 AM

White mayor + Michigan Democrats=same old crap. White Mayor + Republican party= real change for the city and state.

**firstandten** · July-05-12, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by hortonz

White mayor + Michigan Democrats=same old crap. White Mayor + Republican party= real change for the city and state.

So tell us what kind of change would a Republican mayor bring to Detroit ?

**drjeff** · July-05-12, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by hortonz

White mayor + Michigan Democrats=same old crap. White Mayor + Republican party= real change for the city and state.

Yeah, the white mayor in Troy has done a real bang-up job.

The problem with the modern republican party is that it is totally disconnected from reality.

**poobert** · July-06-12, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by hortonz

White mayor + Michigan Democrats=same old crap. White Mayor + Republican party= real change for the city and state.

Imagine - all these years it was that simple! We're saved!

Now...let's see which of these champions we could recruit...I know, Thaddeus McCotter! It is tough with such a deep talent pool. I mean, look at the Republican Presidential candidate.

**p69rrh51** · July-06-12, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by poobert

Imagine - all these years it was that simple! We're saved!

Now...let's see which of these champions we could recruit...I know, Thaddeus McCotter! It is tough with such a deep talent pool. I mean, look at the Republican Presidential candidate.

And the president is the right choice?? Both candidates are lousy leaders and very bad choices.