Will Detroit get a White Mayor.

[Danny]

A round table discussion from Channel 4's Sunday news press talk show Flashpoint asks will Detroit ever get a white mayor? Surely Gary Indiana got a white mayor anout 20 years ago. Detroit up to this day have a long line a black mayors:

1. Coleman A. Young

2. Dennis Archer

3. Kwame Kilpatrick [[Recalled)

4. Ken Cockerel [[ Acting Mayor)

5. Dave Bing

When the 2013 Detroit mayoral election coming soon. I keeping my eye on upcoming Detroit white mayoral candidates:


1. Jeffrey Fieger

2. Sheila Cockerel

3. Mike Illitch

4. Peter Karmonos

5. Dan Gilbert

I am not sure the 4 of the 5 should run for mayor against Dave Bing but Jeffery Fieger alreadt put his hat into the political pot for Detroit mayor. Will a Detroit white mayor reshape the city's image or will it be a bust. Any comments?

[7 & Van Dyke]

Are those serious candidates?

[Zacha341]

Duggin is the front runner and is the ballot so the others are rhetorical mentions I suppose......

Are those serious candidates?

[401don]

You missed Eminem, Matty Maroun and Paws.

[Lowell]

While all things are possible I think it is highly unlikely that there is any person who has a stellar-enough reputation for doing significant actions benefiting the City of Detroit, like Penske, Gilbert, Ilitch or Karmonos, who would also want to endure a bruising campaign followed by governing a city with little revenue and many problems. Arguably they can do more for the city outside of government than inside. The office is fellow-businessman Bing's as long he wants to keep it.

I can't take Feiger's rumored candidacy seriously. It reminds me of Trumps abortive presidential campaign -- more for advertising his brand and business than a sincere run for an office and country that he, like Feiger in Detroit, has done little to improve.

[rjk]

Only slightly better than the chances of a Jewish person becoming the pope.

Even if there was some way that a white person could get elected the criticism that he/she would face would be unbearable. The black community seems a lot more comfortable with a black person screwing them over than a white person. Actually, I think way too comfortable.

I don't think a white person could be appointed to run DPS or be the financial manager of Detroit if it ever gets to that point. There's no way one is going to get elected based on the racial makeup of the city as it stands now.

[gnome]

Only slightly better than the chances of a Jewish person becoming the pope.

Even if there was some way that a white person could get elected the criticism that he/she would face would be unbearable. The black community seems a lot more comfortable with a black person screwing them over than a white person. Actually, I think way too comfortable.

I don't think a white person could be appointed to run DPS or be the financial manager of Detroit if it ever gets to that point. There's no way one is going to get elected based on the racial makeup of the city as it stands now.

That post aged like milk.

[preserve]

I'd vote for Sheila

[Hypestyles]

My guess is that if someone--anyone-- is a serious candidate, they have to be willing to be honest about the current state of the city. That means no more lofty talk about auto companies to set up plants again within the city limits.

be upfront about neighborhood blight; there are still far too many abandined/wrecked/burnt-out homes, storefronts, apartments, warehouses and factory grounds. demolitions and/or renovaiton projects could recruit plenty of local residents. Aggressive enforcement of blight rules on long-abandoned structures needs to take place. Why is the Packard Plant still "standing"? Play hardball with Maroun on the MCS.

be upfront about illiteracy/under-educated adults. Detroit has long been over-dependent on unskilled entry-level labor positions that largely no longer exist in the region. There should be a city-wide undertaking to address this- partner with DPS, and non-profit/philanthropic groups.

be upfront about regional cooperation. Not selling the farm for a few beans, but service sharing, including some progressive movement on the regional transit plan.

be upfront about improving public safety- seek grants from the business world, nonprofits, etc., to help pay for upgraded equipment and maintenance. Retrain personnel on community interaction; have zero tolerance for misbehavior by officers/other dept. personnel.

Be upfront about needing more revenue- don't privatize the parking meters.

[goirish1966]

Paws isn't white; he's striped.

[Planner3357]

Paws isn't white; he's striped.

PAWS is bi-racial. The term "striped" might be taken as derogatory.

[royce]

The next mayor of Detroit needs to be a billionaire who is willing to use some of his billions to help the city out. "Gates, Trumpp, Branson, and Murdock, you guys looking to run for a polical office? Forget the Whitehouse, you can make a bigger dent here in Detroit."

[Zacha341]

What a concept! Someone coming to the table with their own money instead of "STEALING" for their goods and hooking up family and others, with the rationale that it's ok since everyone else does it!

The next mayor of Detroit needs to be a billionaire who is willing to use some of his billions to help the city out. "Gates, Trumpp, Branson, and Murdock, you guys looking to run for a polical office? Forget the Whitehouse, you can make a bigger dent here in Detroit."

[Hypestyles]

..I once sent a letter to Richard Branson about Virgin getting involved in transit trains for Detroit.. I have no idea if it got to him.. LOL...

[MidTownMs]

Detroit will have a white mayor when all of the candidates are white....

[DetroitPlanner]

Who cares? This is a racially divisive topic and one that bears no relevance.

Detroit needs a good strong mayor. In my view we have not had one since CAY.

[Melocoton]

You never hear the question, "will Oakland County ever elect a black County Executive?" or "will Grosse Pointe have a black mayor?" I think Detroit electing a white mayor is more likely than either of those. Black voters have been voting for white candidates since blacks got the right to vote; it's white voters that historically have trouble voting for black candidates.

[Zacha341]

Interesting... Some of the remaining custodial social elite, political rhetoricians, rank & file and person-at-the-coney island etc. still push the "can't let them steal our Jewels" yah-dah world view.

But that's getting REALLY old and tarnished [[pun intended) and simply impractical. And crime is increasing, and the squalor is getting hard to avoid as the even the safer areas erode and the middle and upper class continue to flee. Including the estimable 'stealing the jewels' crowd who'd now prefer to offer their discord from the other side of eight mile and beyond!!

COUNT ME IN: I'd vote for a strong, dedicated, relevant, candidate with a solid and practical vision, showing forth an applicable program and integration of resources who's not part of the "corruption syndicate" lineage no matter what race!!!!!

You never hear the question, "will Oakland County ever elect a black County Executive?" or "will Grosse Pointe have a black mayor?" I think Detroit electing a white mayor is more likely than either of those. Black voters have been voting for white candidates since blacks got the right to vote; it's white voters that historically have trouble voting for black candidates.

[luckycar]

You never hear the question, "will Oakland County ever elect a black County Executive?" or "will Grosse Pointe have a black mayor?" I think Detroit electing a white mayor is more likely than either of those. Black voters have been voting for white candidates since blacks got the right to vote; it's white voters that historically have trouble voting for black candidates.

Yes we would.If they have a proven track record of fiscal awareness.We voted for Barry the Fool,er community org,er voted present with no clue....

[English]

Yes we would.If they have a proven track record of fiscal awareness.We voted for Barry the Fool,er community org,er voted present with no clue....

Yep. And a lot of white folks all over the country are telling each other they'll never make that mistake again... hey, they gave the black guy three good years... a fair chance, and as much time as they gave the...

Oh, wait.

Black Americans are voting with their feet all over the country and especially in Detroit. If they had any problem living in places with white mayors, the suburbs of the United States wouldn't be diversifying.

Also, there are several white Detroit political activists whom I believe would be great as mayor. I went to high school with a rising star in the Democratic Party. He's a politically active white guy, very respected, and comes from a labor/political family. If he threw his hat in the ring, I'd sign up with him tomorrow...

...because he's not afraid of black people. He's a lifelong Detroiter who knows the entire city, not just parts of it. Now, you don't have to be from here, but you do have to do what it takes.

If you're reading this, and you're white, and have political ambitions in this city, you've got to get around to the entire city. We had some great folks up for Charter Commission, a few of whom even post here, but you've got to work the Inner City Sub Center as much as you do Corktown. You've got to get to the churches and the black Greeks. You've got to talk to everyone, even if you disagree, even if you think that the citizens are illiterates and their leaders are a bunch of clowns... and you can't show them that, either. You've got to make common cause with the people and feel as if their voices are heard. [[I hate to say this, but I've figured out that here in Detroit, it's not what you do for people, it's whether or not you listen to their concerns, and don't look down on them. Yes, I know. But that's the way it is.)

I am sure that we'll have a Latino councilperson from SW Detroit in 2013; perhaps we'll also have some white council members IF they actually do the tough work of dealing with the Detroit political machine. Because no matter what people think of the dominant group of Detroit activists, loudmouths, organizers, etc. they are the ones who GOTV on Election Day.

[detroitsgwenivere]

"If you're reading this, and you're white, and have political ambitions in this city, you've got to get around to the entire city..."

That wont be necessary for council seats after the new charter amendments kick in.

I know a few white people who have tossed running for council around in front of me lately, and they all thought they wouldn't have a prayer before council-by-district turned into reality. Of course, they all want to run in the districts where Corktown and Midtown are [[a lot less work there).

I'm already preparing for the nonsense.

[rjk]

You never hear the question, "will Oakland County ever elect a black County Executive?" or "will Grosse Pointe have a black mayor?" I think Detroit electing a white mayor is more likely than either of those. Black voters have been voting for white candidates since blacks got the right to vote; it's white voters that historically have trouble voting for black candidates.

That's because there's a higher percentage of white candidates on the election ballots as opposed to black candidates. Black people make up somewhere around 15% of the population, of course they're going to be more likely to vote for someone of the other race.

[kraig]

That's because there's a higher percentage of white candidates on the election ballots as opposed to black candidates. Black people make up somewhere around 15% of the population, of course they're going to be more likely to vote for someone of the other race.

But you're overlooking the point that even while the City has been majority black, the residents have not had problems with voting for white candidates. Ficano received more votes out of Detroit than the black candidates in the democratic primary. Even while majority black, Ravitz, Eberhard, Cockrel, and Kelly all were voted in at large. Hell, Maryann Mahaffey served three terms as Council President during a time of the percentage of black residency was growing. And she would have been the first to tell you that she was getting voted in by black residents.

Not to mention Tobocman, Tlaib, both Lelands, some Cavanaughs [[with Chris Cavanaugh winning among black Detroiters while losing among the white voters in the Pointes and Harper Woods, during a Dem primary, while living in the Pointes) and Hansen Clarke.

Black Detroiters are as willing to vote for, who is perceived as good candidates, as much, if not moreso, as anyone else.

[Detroit Stylin]

You never hear the question, "will Oakland County ever elect a black County Executive?" or "will Grosse Pointe have a black mayor?" I think Detroit electing a white mayor is more likely than either of those. Black voters have been voting for white candidates since blacks got the right to vote; it's white voters that historically have trouble voting for black candidates.

You are telling too much truth bruh...

[GUSHI]

Obama he's black & got the job.

you never hear the question, "will oakland county ever elect a black county executive?" or "will grosse pointe have a black mayor?" i think detroit electing a white mayor is more likely than either of those. Black voters have been voting for white candidates since blacks got the right to vote; it's white voters that historically have trouble voting for black candidates.