Bing to run for 2nd term?

**ruxy17** · January-27-11, 01:56 PM

My boss just got back from the PRSA luncheon at the DAC where she says Dave Bing said that he plans to run for mayor for a 2nd term.

forgive my ignorance, but this is the first time he's mentioned this, correct? I sort of remember him saying that he would NOT run again.

**Detroitnerd** · January-27-11, 02:01 PM

Oh, a few months ago he said me would consider a second term. Why not? Beckham and company only had to hide in the Trojan horse for one night, and now the city's theirs.

**ruxy17** · January-27-11, 02:02 PM

nevermind. apparently he announced it on December 8 and I wasn't paying attention.

**BrushStart** · January-27-11, 02:13 PM

This is really no surprise. I expected him to run again and am quite happy about it. Investors, the business community, and most of the public are also going to be happy that there will at least be continued stability. Elections in Detroit can be frightening with the prospect of someone like Barrow winning or another Kilpatrick-type getting elected. We need to keep the positive momentum going long enough for there to be a safe margin of people who are not going to vote for those types that will send us spinning back into the dark ages.

**Gistok** · January-27-11, 02:20 PM

Ruxy17.... you weren't the only person that didn't hear that. I just found out on the MCS Facebook thread the other day, when they referenced this Bing interview on Channel 4 from a month ago where he mentions that he's going to run for a 2nd term....

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/26092771/index.html

**lizaanne** · January-27-11, 03:01 PM

I hope he does - I think he is doing as well as can be expected, he has a lot of good ideas, and it's going to take time to get things done. Changing horses in mid stream is going to stop everything dead in its tracks. Just let the man do his job - it's hard enough being the mayor in this city, give him a chance.

**StubbyStone** · January-27-11, 03:03 PM

i'm glad he's running again and i'm fine if this is a promise he's breaking...

**Johnlodge** · January-27-11, 03:28 PM

My take on his saying he'd only be mayor for one term was that the context was the decisions he would have to make to get the city moving in the right direction would be very unpopular, so that's probably all he'd get.

**Gistok** · January-27-11, 04:06 PM

I know that some here don't care for Bing.... apparently he doesn't do all the flashy grandstanding that KK did.... He could have done some of those big flashy media circuses in front of the Madison, Broderick or Whitney Buildings saying that he's moving Detroit forward.

But instead [[as he says) he's working 14 hours a day... and can't fix everything in 4 years.

Since the city didn't get in the current mess in 4 years... I guess it can't fix everything in 4 years...

However.... I do agree with the critics that DPD and EMS response times should be at or near the top of his "to fix" list.... along with clearing abandoned structures...

**Detroitnerd** · January-27-11, 04:48 PM

I just don't think of Bing as much of a leader. What has he done since he's come into office? Working 14 hours a day? Where is the product of this work? And, yeah, I'm troubled by him bringing in some of the same-old-same crowd who've had their shenanigans under Kwame.

I don't want a flashy, dazzling executive necessarily, but it would be nice if he were to occasionally speak to the public he intends to lead. I think it's called "the vision thing."

**Fnemecek** · January-27-11, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I just don't think of Bing as much of a leader. What has he done since he's come into office? Working 14 hours a day? Where is the product of this work?

This is going to be the most important question of the mayoral election, in my opinion. Mayor Bing is going to need to have a very good answer for it and, if he wants that second term, it's going to have be in answer to the challenges that most of Detroit's electorate [[i.e., folks in the neighborhoods) care about.

If the election were held today, it's doubtful that Mayor Bing would even make it past the primary. Luckily for Mayor Bing, however, the election is still 2 1/2 years away. He still has to turn this around, implement the things that he's talked about, and show Detroiters that he has earned a second full term.

NorthEndere · January-27-11, 09:39 PM

Unless Bing makes some catastrophic blunder, he's getting reelected. Detroiters have already shown that they don't mind his aloofness; his near complete emotional detachment from what's going on; his total lack of fight when confronted by the likes of Patterson, and so much more. So long as he doesn't embarrass them on a national scale, they'll reelect him save for some darkhorse opposition candidate with an organization that isn't and hasn't materialized, and most likely wont. It's a ridiculously low bar to set, but that's where it seems to be, at the moment. This dismantling, and reabsorbtion/co-optiong of, the Kilpatrick's support base has taken care of any organization opposition that may be out there. Who else would want the job of taking over from Bing now that it's finally been revealed where the city is, financially?

Get used to Mayor Bing, 'cause he's got that office for as long as he wants it.

**kraig** · January-27-11, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

This is going to be the most important question of the mayoral election, in my opinion. Mayor Bing is going to need to have a very good answer for it and, if he wants that second term, it's going to have be in answer to the challenges that most of Detroit's electorate [[i.e., folks in the neighborhoods) care about.

If the election were held today, it's doubtful that Mayor Bing would even make it past the primary. Luckily for Mayor Bing, however, the election is still 2 1/2 years away. He still has to turn this around, implement the things that he's talked about, and show Detroiters that he has earned a second full term.

He not only would make it through the primary, he'd win again. Two things that need to be factored in. Detroiters don't vote for change [[when was the last time that an elected mayoral incumbent lost?) and there aren't any real challengers on the horizon. He suckered Hendrix and Evans up under him and sent them back out as damaged goods. So that's it for them.

**Gistok** · January-27-11, 10:30 PM

Kraig... maybe I didn't read the news that day... but what happened to Hendrix??

**Fnemecek** · January-27-11, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by kraig

He not only would make it through the primary, he'd win again. Two things that need to be factored in. Detroiters don't vote for change [[when was the last time that an elected mayoral incumbent lost?) and there aren't any real challengers on the horizon.

#1. Kilpatrick almost didn't make it past the primary when he ran for re-election. In fact, if the anti-Kilpatrick vote hadn't been split 3 ways, he likely would not have made it.

#2. There's a bunch of folks who could emerge as opponents. We've got state reps and state senators in Detroit who will are currently out of office, or soon will be, thanks to term limits. Many of them are eager for a new job. Then there are all of the ministers who have at least the beginnings of an organization. On top of that, I'm sure either Pugh or Brown will make a run for it as well.

**Fnemecek** · January-27-11, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by NorthEnder

Unless Bing makes some catastrophic blunder, he's getting reelected. Detroiters have already shown that they don't mind his aloofness; his near complete emotional detachment from what's going on; his total lack of fight when confronted by the likes of Patterson, and so much more.

I think most people can deal with aloofness and detachment. If those were his only drawback, Mayor Bing would be guaranteed re-election. However, unless he starts showing results and answering the demands of his constituency, he is going to have problems getting past the primary.

So long as he doesn't embarrass them on a national scale, they'll reelect him save for some darkhorse opposition candidate with an organization that isn't and hasn't materialized, and most likely wont. It's a ridiculously low bar to set, but that's where it seems to be, at the moment.

Embarrassment on a national scale?

What do you call a police department that has one of the largest budgets in the country, but still can't manage to show up when needed?

What do you call Detroiters dying in the streets because EMS doesn't show up, even though they have the money in the budget for a decent service?

What do you call firefighters dying because they don't have the equipment they need?

This has the makings of a national embarrassment. All that's needed is for someone to exploit it.

Get used to Mayor Bing, 'cause he's got that office for as long as he wants it.

Funny. Back in 2007, a certain mayoral appointee said the same thing to me about Kwame Kilpatrick.

In American politics, no one every really has a safe seat.

However, the primary isn't for another 2 1/2 years. There is still time for Mayor Bing to turn things around. We'll just have to see if he does it.

**kraig** · January-28-11, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Kraig... maybe I didn't read the news that day... but what happened to Hendrix??

After the primary, Hendrix backed Bing. Bing then convinced Hendrix to run for the Charter Commission. Hendrix left the Charter Commission for a spot on the Greektown Casino Board. When you factor in that Hendix publicly claimed that he was done trying to run for Mayor with the fact that a lot of his supporters are upset with the fact that he quit an elected position, his political career is pretty much over. He would probably be taken just a little more seriously than Tom Barrow. Which isn't saying much.

NorthEndere · January-28-11, 01:53 AM

We won't have to see, anything. Barring something that gets him state-wide or national attention in a negative way, he's getting re-elected. You can bark at him all that you want. If he's not going to be brought down by wind-swept fires literally burning in every corner of the city in a day, nothing that passes as "normal" in Detroit will bring him down. There is nothing, nothing negative in substance that has stuck to this guy, thus far. The most damning criticism has been about his style, and that sure as hell won't be enough to topple him all by itself.

Keep his feet to the fire, but I hope you're not buying what you're saying, because this guy is cruising to re-election. Hell, if Kilpatrick hadn't had the entire weight of the justice system thrown ontop of him, he'd have probably had an actual chance at another re-election, I hate to say it. It takes a hell of a lot of scandal and incompetence to topple incumbent mayors in old big cities.

**kraig** · January-28-11, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

#1. Kilpatrick almost didn't make it past the primary when he ran for re-election. In fact, if the anti-Kilpatrick vote hadn't been split 3 ways, he likely would not have made it.

#2. There's a bunch of folks who could emerge as opponents. We've got state reps and state senators in Detroit who will are currently out of office, or soon will be, thanks to term limits. Many of them are eager for a new job. Then there are all of the ministers who have at least the beginnings of an organization. On top of that, I'm sure either Pugh or Brown will make a run for it as well.

The fact that you didn't come up with any names besides Pugh or Brown tells me that you don't even take what you posted seriously. Pugh has shown that he's nothing but a fiscally irresponsible mess. And Brown has milked his victimization for all it's worth. They'll find out the same thing that Hill, McPhail and Cockrel discovered. City Council is not a stepping stone to the Mayor's office.

**Gistok** · January-28-11, 02:39 AM

Thanks Kraig... I knew about the Charter Commission, but was unaware of the Greektown board.

Are people that unforgiving though?? [[Well maybe the "powers that be" are.)

Mike Duggan left the post of Wayne County Prosecutor to become the head of the DMC. Come to think of it... he did us all a favor vis a vis Kym Worthy!!

I was about to ask if his reputation was tarnished... but then again... he's part of the remains of the "MacNamara Gang".

Hmmm.... I wonder if Bing told Hendrix that he's running for a 2nd term early on... and Hendrix maybe just threw in the proverbiial towel and decided to return to the private sector for good.

**cmubryan** · January-28-11, 01:33 PM

He is a businessperson not politican. If you want grandstanding and an "emotional" leader then go ahead and reelect KK. You see where that got us. I believe that he is working to his fullest to keep Detroit afloat. The fact that the city didn't go into bankruptcy and I believe has improved its credit rating during the worst economic situation since the 1930s shows that he is doing something right.

**Fnemecek** · January-28-11, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by NorthEnder

We won't have to see, anything. Barring something that gets him state-wide or national attention in a negative way, he's getting re-elected. You can bark at him all that you want. If he's not going to be brought down by wind-swept fires literally burning in every corner of the city in a day, nothing that passes as "normal" in Detroit will bring him down. There is nothing, nothing negative in substance that has stuck to this guy, thus far. The most damning criticism has been about his style, and that sure as hell won't be enough to topple him all by itself.

You may refer to what's happening in Detroit under Mayor Bing as "normal". However, I doubt the majority of voters do or will.

Go to any community meeting in this city and you will hear an incredible amount of complaining about Mayor Bing and his lack of accomplishments. The news media isn't picking up on it. However, the MSM is always behind of the curve on this.

Keep his feet to the fire, but I hope you're not buying what you're saying, because this guy is cruising to re-election.

In politics, if you're cruising, you're pretty much guaranteed to go down in defeat.

The primary is still 2 1/2 years away. Mayor Bing still has time to turn it around. However, he is going to have to start producing results that matter to the majority of Detroiters.

**Fnemecek** · January-28-11, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by kraig

The fact that you didn't come up with any names besides Pugh or Brown tells me that you don't even take what you posted seriously. Pugh has shown that he's nothing but a fiscally irresponsible mess. And Brown has milked his victimization for all it's worth. They'll find out the same thing that Hill, McPhail and Cockrel discovered. City Council is not a stepping stone to the Mayor's office.

The fact that you're dismissing Pugh and Brown tells me that you know very little about politics.

Detroiters tossed out Cockrel when he wasn't accomplishing anything. Bing's entire campaign simply consisted of repeating the word "change" as often as he could and that got him elected.

By the time, the November 2009 election came around, Bing was only elected to a full term with a 15 point margin of victory - in spite of the fact that he ran against an incredibly weak candidate with no money and the fact that a lot of Detroiters felt that he hadn't had enough time in office to be judged properly.

He won't be running against Tom Barrow in 2013. Regardless of whether he's up against a minister, a former state rep, or one of the City Council members, it's going to be a long shot for him if he doesn't start producing results.

**Fnemecek** · January-28-11, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by cmubryan

He is a businessperson not politican. If you want grandstanding and an "emotional" leader then go ahead and reelect KK. You see where that got us. I believe that he is working to his fullest to keep Detroit afloat. The fact that the city didn't go into bankruptcy and I believe has improved its credit rating during the worst economic situation since the 1930s shows that he is doing something right.

I don't care if a given leader grandstands or is "emotional". I want results. In business, if you don't produce results, you get fired. In politics, it's similar but one has to wait until the next election.

As for your assertion that Mayor Bing must be doing something right, I invite you discuss that question with anyone who has had to call Detroit Police, Fire or EMS in the past 2 years.

**kraig** · January-28-11, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

The fact that you're dismissing Pugh and Brown tells me that you know very little about politics.

Detroiters tossed out Cockrel when he wasn't accomplishing anything. Bing's entire campaign simply consisted of repeating the word "change" as often as he could and that got him elected.

By the time, the November 2009 election came around, Bing was only elected to a full term with a 15 point margin of victory - in spite of the fact that he ran against an incredibly weak candidate with no money and the fact that a lot of Detroiters felt that he hadn't had enough time in office to be judged properly.

He won't be running against Tom Barrow in 2013. Regardless of whether he's up against a minister, a former state rep, or one of the City Council members, it's going to be a long shot for him if he doesn't start producing results.

At the rate he's going, Charles Pugh won't have the legal residence needed to run for office. Seriously, the public has already seen that Pugh got into politics in order to have a Kwame style Civic Fund. You also have to take into consideration that if the public is going to hold Bing accountable, they're going to hold Council accountable as well.

If you seriously look at recent history, you'll see that Pugh isn't as popular as Hill was when he ran and lost against a non-incumbent. So Pugh's chances don't look that good. Besides, will Pugh risk giving up his Council seat to run against Bing? I don't think so.