My Perspective: Detroit’s New City Council Should Be

The City of Detroit has had its fair share of ups and downs over the last year from a mayoral scandal and removal to city council corruption as well as not to mention a free falling economy and a huge city deficit. Therefore it is no wonder why with such a pivotal primary election on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, it is important for Detroiters to turn out like never before to elect a new and better City Council that understands the City of Detroit residents and know exactly what the future of Detroit needs to do in order to improve.

Now Detroit will not change overnight and many Detroiters might not see the change we want to see to Detroit’s economy but the things that Detroit should expect from a new city council is respectability, better governance, regional cooperation, and plans for economic development for not just the next 4 years but for the future. Also Detroit’s new City Council should be focused on improving Detroit’s city services particularly lawn cutting, garbage pick-up/bulk up, and public safety. Detroit’s new City Council has to be knowledgeable of the issues affecting the city, the county, the region and the state so that they can be proactive in trying to fix these issues before they drastically affect the City of Detroit like they have done in the past.

The new City Council must be able to strengthen Detroit’s image and must be willing to work with the Mayor of Detroit Dave Bing to create a marketable plan that will attract new businesses to the city. The new City Council should not try to focus on repopulation for the city because that is something that will and should be discussed 4 years from after the bleeding stops in the city in terms of budget deficits and corruption in city government.

Simply put, Detroit’s next City Council must be able to relate to the people and must be willing to work with the people to fix city government, city services and the overall image of the city. Therefore with all that said, here are a list of candidates running for City Council who I have paid attention to and have actually seen campaigning from which shows me that they didn’t just put their name on a ballot and they are not just looking for a job neither. Detroit we need to get beyond name recognition and we need to start listening to candidates’ platforms and issues. The candidates I am supporting are not pro-union or anti-union, they are not pro-public education or anti-public education, and they are not pro-regionalization or anti-regionalization. However these candidates are pro-Detroit in the sense that they will work to do what is best for the city and the residents of the city.

The candidates I am endorsing are about embracing new ideas to figure out government and they are willing to meet with all people to bring about changes to the City of Detroit that will improve the overall image and quality of life in the city. So without any further opinion, I am endorsing the following candidates for Detroit City Council (these candidates are not in any particular order):

1. David Cross because he is business savvy and isn’t running to have a job but actually understands that the survival of the City of Detroit is not possible without fixing the education system and the quality of service in the city. Also Cross understands that City Government must be able to relate to the people and must be open, honest and upfront with the people. Now the knock on Cross might be he isn’t in the political arena as much and he has never ran for political office before but that shouldn’t be a reason for anyone not to vote for Cross because Detroit needs competent people with new ideas to the problems that plague us. Plus Cross is a businessman with business connections so he understands the importance of business and running a city like a business which is what was missing on previous councils. The City Council must understand they are managers of a business and they must make decisions that will help the business grow which is what previous councils have not done.

2. Raphael Johnson because he is a very intelligent man who has overcome many obstacles in life in order to become a role model to young men and women who make mistakes early in their life. Also he is a quick and fast learner who has a fresh approach to solving Detroit’s issues and will connect it with the rest of the world which is what Detroit’s Council City has been missing for years. The City Council needs a proactive thinker who thinks about the future and looks to solve problems or prevent problems before they even occur. Plus the fact that Raphael Johnson has never ran or participated in any political arena makes him the fresh blood that Detroit needs in politics. We need new faces in government and Raphael is not only a new face but someone with bold and innovative ideas to address the issues plaguing Detroit.

3. Brenda Goss Andrews is a grass rooter who knows the political system but most of all understands people and knows the issues that the City of Detroit faces. She knows the issues of both the East and West sides of Detroit which makes her an ideal candidate for council because she is able to relate to the entire city which previous council members knew nothing about. Brenda Goss Andrews is hard nose and knows how to bring solutions to the table that plague us the residents of Detroit which is why it would make sense to put her on council.

4. Dr. Corletta J. Vaughn is another great candidate for Detroit City Council because she brings a spiritual nature to the campaign and understands the need to "marry" government with non-profits to generate jobs. Now she is someone who understands that no matter who you put in City government they must be able to work with non-profits to improve many of the issues plaguing our city. That’s why having a council member who understands non-profits not just churches will be something new to council. Thus it should create a partnership similar to the one Obama’s administration wants when it comes to service and community. Dr. Vaughn can help non-profits turn parks and neighborhoods into beacons of light for the City of Detroit thus improving the city’s image in the short and long term.

5. Dalton Roberson Jr. is truly what Detroit’s City Council needs because he young blood. He is not only young but he is new blood which the City of Detroit needs and he is sharp as a whip which is what I am impressed by. Detroit needs young people to step up and Dalton is a young man who can help pave the way for future youth to run for office in the future and perhaps Dalton can reshape the image of politics for youth when they seek other offices in the city. Dalton is very centrist in his thinking and has a pulse on the region in terms of business, education and development which is what impresses me the most. Now some people might think he is running because of name recognition since his father is Judge Dalton Roberson, Sr., but I am here to tell you that Dalton understands politics and he understands what it will take for Detroit to get better for the future. Dalton is not running on name but he is running off of energy, passion and charisma. He is the new blood of politics that Detroit needs and someone that many Detroiters need to embrace and help get on council.

6. Joan Gist is another candidate for Detroit City Council and she ran in 2005 but lost but despite that lost in 2005, she supports black owned businesses in Detroit and she is pro-Detroit and would fight to maintain a tax base here in the city. Her signs from her 2005 were seen throughout the city for 4 years now and after listening to her platform, I quickly seen how she would bring a huge shift in the way city government has been done in previous years. She is classy, respectable and knowledgeable about city life but most of all she possesses a strong voice to address the issues of city residents and black businesses in the city which is needed. The fact she hasn’t made any loud noise since 2005 doesn’t mean anything to me because she has been doing behind the scenes work on many issues plaguing our city and in the process she has gained a broader base of support for what it takes to be effective on City Council. Effectiveness is key and I think she will be one of the most effectiveness City Council members on this new council.

7. Lisa Howze is exactly what the City Council needs because she is a financial wizard. Lisa is a master in terms of balancing budgets and she fully understands that in order for Detroit to grow economically, it has to embrace a silver rights approach which in turn will connect Detroit to global market places like never before. Lisa’s vision for transforming Detroit into a global financial market is bold and innovative as well as one that is needed for the City to get financially and economically stable. While Lisa Howze knowledge of budgets alone is all the more reason why she needs to be on council because it is clear that our council over the years have not been able to balance a budget and don’t understand how to make effective budget cuts without city services getting poorer and poorer. Lisa can help other council members as well as city residents understand the budget as well as how it needs to be fixed. So even if she doesn’t’ win a seat on council she definitely needs to be involved in city government particularly the finance and budget office in some capacity.

8. De'Rone Buffington is another new face to politics but has familiarity with city government from working with the Archer administration in volunteer positions. However he understands the need to bring more business to Detroit and wants to bring Detroit into the 21st century. I met him at a father’s day event and he spoke of how males in the City of Detroit need to play a larger role in not just City Government but in the lives of children which is something that is so true. He also spoke to me afterwards about making Detroit more marketable and attractable to future events, conferences and concerts by creating a marketing plan for the city that can help the city grow both in the short and long term. Buffington is business savvy and he understands that a city is business and his connection to the business community will help the city in going forward.

9. Gary Brown should be on council because of his experience in public safety and his approach to understanding people. Now many people might not agree with Gary Brown since he won his case against the city and Kilpatrick administration but I am simply speaking about my conversations with Brown from 2001 up until now. Gary has always presented to me a fairness to deal with people and a familiarity to understand what is right and wrong for the residents of Detroit. As a police officer he had proven results of protecting residents and even as a commander he was extraordinary in dealing with crime, school truancy and youth violence. I truly believe that Gary’s experience with the public safety is a plus to city government because he will ensure that when it comes to budget cuts and making sure that that public is safe will be a priority for us the city residents. However if you don’t like Gary, there are other former police officers running for City Council so you might find them enticing.

10. Shantel Bell is another global thinker and her approach to city government will be one that similar to other candidates which connecting Detroit to the rest of the region. However she articulately explains this vision in a more universal approach and she speaks about connecting education globally. Not many City Council members talk about education but if the mayor inherits DPS, it is an issue that the council will have to deal with which why Shantel’s approach to Council is one that will help this transition of DPS being a part of City government a great chance for the city to grow population wise and business wise by building a stronger educational base.

11. Renette Jackson is inexperienced from time to time when presenting her case in terms of why she should be on council but the action she possesses in terms of energy in rare. Renette is affectionately called to bring excitement to the City Council race with her energy and passion. Also her legal expertise can help her as well as other council members interpret the charter, interpret legislation from Lansing and other matters. Renette’s legal expertise is similar to that of Sharon McPhail because when Sharon was on council she was one of the most effective council members in years. Thus Renette’s ability to understand the laws and to apply the laws because of her legal experience should help her be an effective city council member. While her approach is shaky, her excitement and her legal knowledge are rare and important to city council.

Now I know there are many other candidates that running but my list is based off of information I received from my policy partner Akindele Akinyemi as well as what I have seen from those running for political office. Now be mindful that the economy has affected politics as well as because not every candidate has enough money to bill lawn signs, billboards, and do mass mailings. Therefore I encourage all of you to attend candidate forums, read other blog sites and ask your neighbors about certain candidates as well as your friends who are political savvy and aware of Detroit politics.

This is an important election year for Detroit and we must all show up at the poll on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 and vote for the candidates I am proposing to you or the one’s you feel is best but just make sure you vote on. We can’t change Detroit unless we vote to change the political climate of our battered past. So make your vote for change count this August by voting for candidates who have us the residents of Detroit interests at heart first. We need new leadership, a new vision and innovative plans to rebuild Detroit and these are the candidates I can see doing it.

Political Disclaimer: I am no way affiliated with any candidate that I have endorsed on this list nor have I taken any monetary payment from any candidate on this list or have I volunteered, worked or participated in any political planning meetings for any candidate I have endorsed for City Council. These endorsements are based off my vision for the City of Detroit and the candidates that I feel can bring about the change that I want to see for the city.