Ken Cockrel is running for City Council Again

**jhartmich** · May-11-09, 06:32 PM

Just got a notice from my union hall that Ken Cockrel is running for City Council again and that they are 417 signatures short. They need the signatures by Tuesday, May 12.

I guess being mayor wasn't all that great.

**Detroitej72** · May-11-09, 07:32 PM

Hopefully he will get the most votes in November and remain as council president. I think him and Bing can work together in Detroit's best interest to fix the city.
Now. if only we can loose Mon the Con, BRC, Warson, and Martha.

**Prodigal_Son** · May-11-09, 08:23 PM

My wife and I both signed. Only 415 to go.

MIRepublic · May-11-09, 10:18 PM

This doesn't exactly mean he's not also running for mayor. I won't believe that until he states it, himself. He could very well start both a council and mayoral race and drop out of one or the other. He could easily be covering both bases. Who knows?

**R8RBOB** · May-11-09, 10:35 PM

IMO, I think Cockrel should run for Council again. Had he ran for mayor, I would have not voted for him. I don't have anything against Cockrel but he got the stink of Monica Conyers all over him. She has been too much of a foil for him and at times it made him look weak. Because of the hate for Conyers he was denied on election day to finish Kilpatrick's term.

Once Conyers is voted out of CC and Cockrel serves another term, he could revisit the mayor's office but not now.

**kraig** · May-12-09, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by MIRepublic

This doesn't exactly mean he's not also running for mayor. I won't believe that until he states it, himself. He could very well start both a council and mayoral race and drop out of one or the other. He could easily be covering both bases. Who knows?

While he is allowed to pull petitions for both races, he's only allowed to file petitions for one of the offices. At this late date, if he's pulled petitions for City Council, that's probably the office he's going for. Unless, somehow he's not able to get enough signatures to file for Council and would run for mayor because he does have enough signatures, having pulled his petitions much earlier.

**kraig** · May-12-09, 09:57 AM

Cockrel returns to council, prepares to announce plans today

David Josar and Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Kenneth Cockrel Jr. returned to the City Council today to a round of applause, and plans to announce his plans for elected office at a 2 p.m. press conference.
Cockrel, who lost to Dave Bing in last week's general mayoral election, entered the council's chambers on the 13th floor shortly after 10 a.m.
"Welcome back, Mr. President," Councilwoman Joann Watson said.
Cockrel takes over as president until the end of the term Dec. 31. He is expected to announce his intentions at a 2 p.m. press conference at or near Wayne State University. Former Council President Monica Conyers was not in attendance.
"I'd be lying if I said I had mixed feelings," Cockrel said. "You got play the cards that are dealt and I play to win."
Cockrel has pulled petitions to run for both mayor and City Council, but he has not returned either. Today is the filing deadline, and Monday, his campaign manager pulled petitions for the council.
During the mayoral campaign, Cockrel said he would run for the four-year mayoral term even if he lost. However, after the election, which had him leading in the weeks before voters went to the polls, he appeared stunned at his defeat.
djosar@detnews.com