May 7, 2009


Conyers, Cockrel trade jabs in encounter

By Naomi R. Patton and Zachary Gorchow
Free Press Staff Writers Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers appears increasingly serious about trying to prevent outgoing Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. from bumping her out of the top spot on council once Mayor-elect Dave Bing is sworn in.

Just after 11 this morning, Bing, Cockrel and Conyers arrived at the employee entrance to City Hall at the same time. The three exchanged pleasantries.

Then as Bing and Cockrel prepared to ride up the executive elevator to the mayor’s office, Cockrel recognized someone he knew in the lobby and went to say hello. Bing went up the elevator.

While Cockrel and Conyers waited for the elevator, the two initially exchanged polite banter and Cockrel said something about needing to make preparation to move his materials from the mayor’s office to the council president’s office. It wasn’t clear what Conyers said, but she apparently again suggested she might fight the loss of the council president’s job, based on what Cockrel said next.

“There’s nothing to argue,” he said.

Conyers responded, “Well, maybe you should read that then,” an apparent reference to the City Charter, which she has been saying provides no guidance about whether Cockrel returns to the council president post.

Later, at a council meeting, Conyers directed the Law Department and the council’s Research and Analysis Division to review four chapters in the charter, especially the one dealing with succession to office, as well as court cases.

Councilman Kwame Kenyatta, a Conyers foe, cited a September Wayne County Circuit Court decision against an effort to have Cockrel’s council seat declared vacant.

“The people determine through the vote who the council president is,” he said. “I think it’s clear.”

The charter states the top vote-getter in the council elections is the president.

Councilwomen Sheila Cockrel, Brenda Jones, Alberta Tinsley-Talabi and Barbara-Rose Collins all said Cockrel should return to his council president seat.

"I'm proud to have served with him," Tinsley-Talabi said Wednesday. "We'll certainly be cordial."

Conyers and Council President Pro Tem JoAnn Watson cited the charter section’s lack of guidance on what happens once a mayoral vacancy is filled at a special election. The charter states, “If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, the council president shall succeed to the office until a new mayor is elected.”

Cockrel became mayor Sept. 19 to fill the vacancy caused by former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s resignation.

The charter does not specifically say that Cockrel, because he lost to Bing, reverts to council president. However, the use of the word “until” appears to suggest he would return.

On Wednesday, Conyers told local TV news media that "the charter only speaks to succession forward, it doesn't speak to what happens if the mayor happens to come back. ... That is something council is looking into, but we'll see what happens."

But if their relationship is any indicator, Cockrel may have a fight on his hands.
Conyers and Cockrel battled before and during the eight months Cockrel has been mayor, most infamously when she derided him as “Shrek” during a spat at a meeting. The latest clash came when Cockrel vetoed a Conyers-led rejection of legislation that created a regional board to run Cobo Center. A Wayne County judge sided with the council, saying Cockrel lacked the authority to veto the action.
Contact NAOMI R. PATTON: 313-223-3327 or npatton@freepress.com.