Hello Everyone,
I'm taking a second diary break from my hiatus from the blogosphere to comment on the now decided Detroit City Elections. The results are up on the Detroit NBC affliate's website http://www.clickondetroit.com/... (this is all of the Michigan city elections, just select Detroit from the menu). Here's a rundown for the Mayor, City Council, Charter Commission, Clerks, and 2 different City proposals (one for a school "stimulus money" bond, the other for city council by district), results and analysis below:
Detroit Mayor:
David Bing (i) 58%
Tom Barrow 42%
This was considered a "watershed" election as the belief was the the unions support of Barrow was leading to a "late surge", which is fortunate as Barrow cynically was running a horrid "Us against the world" campaign in the worst tradition of Coleman Young and convicted felon Kwame Kilpatrick, with Barrow even coming out against the Cobo deal (despite the fact that Cobo was bleeding the city dry, and we were going to lose what little business we had). Barrow was also opposed to any privatization of the Coleman Young airport (note: This is not Metro, its a smaller airport that I didn't even know about until Bing's turnaround team recommended privatizing servicing the airport). Regardless of your opinions on Bing's hardball tactics with the unions (I believe they are partly needed as employee costs account for 65% of the city budget, so any effort to balance it needs givebacks).
City Council (in order of finish)
Charles Pugh (new council president)
Gary Brown
Saunlee Jenkins
Ken Cockrel Jr. (i)
Brenda Jones (i)
Reverend Andre Spivey
James Tate
Kwame Kenyatta (i)
Joanna Watson (i)
Voted off the Council
Alberta Tinsley-Talabi
Worst Collapse After the Primary
Jai-Lee Dearing who went from finishing 8th after the primary to finishing 12th in the General Election
Pugh benefitted from a combination of name recognition as well as being the only openly gay candidate in the race. He also benefited from what columnist Jack Lessenberry referred to on the Fox affliate as the "Kwame Bounce" as he actually gained support after the Newspapers pulled their endorsements (due to Pugh's issues with paying his Condo loan). Gary Brown is a former Detroit Deputy Police Chief and millionaire (due to his successful whistleblower lawsuit against the city during the Kilpatrick era) who was one of my top candidates during my Detroit political diaries (click on my name and click through the diaries to see past endorsements and comments). Overall, with the exception of Pugh, who isn't really qualified to be Council chief (and 10th place finisher Lisa HOwze being more qualified to be on the council period), and Joanna Watson (who I never believed to be in danger of getting voted off) I'm happy with this council as 7 of those selected are worthwhile choices. Dearing's support collapsed due to news about business irregularities from his business ventures (facing charges of operating it without a license, trouble with the fire marshal's, having had his driver's license suspended 3 times,e tc.) which may have finished him in terms of his chances of ever making the council.
Charter Commission
Freeman Hendrix
Teola Hunter
Ken Coleman
Jenice Ford
Reg Davis
Rose R. Robinson
Ken Harris
John Johnson
Cara Blout
This was an election I wasn't quite as happy about as, while the top 5 choices were all sound I haven't heard anything about Rose Robinsons anywhere and I have no background on her at all. Johnson was the City Attorney who's facing serious ethics complaints due to his actions during Kilpatrick's reign and I did not want him elected to anything. I'm also disappointed by the very low vote totals for former city ombudsman John Eddings and attorney Sarah Lile as both were excellent choices for this job.
City Clerk
Janice Winfrey
Winfrey, who has done a fine job as city clerk since 2005 has gotten re-elected overwhelmingly. Just about the only choice to be made.
School Board
Lamar Lemmons
Ida Short
Reverend David O. Murray
Carol Banks
NO idea on Banks, but Murray and Short are part of the current incompetent board which is fighting Emergency Manager Robert Bobb every step of the way. And Lamar Lemmons was one of the worst STate Reps during his tenure in Lansing, and was part of the "Kilpatrick Revenge Squad" (part of a group of machine hacks who tried to beat Kilpatrick's enemies among Detroit STate Legislative members).