2005 Detroit Mayoral Election

[HolidayInnExpress]

I can agree with that. I've always said that Detroit's problems (and the solutions to those problems) are bigger than any one man or woman, or even bigger than any one city.

This election wasn't so much a referendum on the economy or anything like that, because mayors can't much affect those issues. What is was a referendum on is who Detroit wanted to show at it's front door. They decided they wanted the charasmatic, rowdy fratboy (Kwame), over the more studious student (Freeman). It was a popularity race; and many people seem to forget that.

What worries me is that those outside of the city have largely lost ALL trust in Kilpatricks leaderships and that IS a REAL problem for Detroit; a city which can no longer afford to burn more bridges.

Point well taken, however, what should be troubling is that the bridge has one way traffic. No one outside of Detroit seems to be worried about the bridge being burned, which implies that people in the City need those outside the city more than those outside the city need them. This may be true economically, but DETROIT controls the image for the region, not its suburbs. Hence, when the city suffers the image of the region suffers which negatively affects investment into the region from those outside the region. Until the area outside Detroit starts to see its fate ties to the fate of Detroit...and hence be willing to invest in the city, notwithstanding how they feel about its political leader...the areas fate is doomed to relative and or absolute decline.

[GaryP]

I think Detroit playing musical chairs with mayors only gives the people the impression that they, as citizens, can really change the fate of the city through their vote.

Let's not try to give that impression.

[dgriff04]

I can't help but to notice some similarities btw the mayoral election and the presidential election:

1. Both were won by tough alpha male types who liked to spend money wastefully while their opponents were perceived as too soft with no clear vision.

2. Both opponents Kerry and Hendrixs had overwhelming support from outsiders that were unable to have a sayso in the election

3. The majority of the incumbents votes came from lower class citizens

4. Both incumbents ran a "faith based" campaign winning the support of the church

5. Both incumbents had unfortunate events right before the elections that they were able to capitalize on. Bush had the hurricaines in Florida and Kilpatrick had the passing of Rosa Parks.

6. Both incumbents won even though exit polls showed them losing

7. Fox and Fox news were the only networks to call the election right from the beginning

8. Both incumbents had the support of big business

One difference: Kwame actually looked better in the debates. Also I hope he doesn't drive this city into the ground the way Bush did the country.

[Zissou]

Point well taken, however, what should be troubling is that the bridge has one way traffic. No one outside of Detroit seems to be worried about the bridge being burned, which implies that people in the City need those outside the city more than those outside the city need them. This may be true economically, but DETROIT controls the image for the region, not its suburbs. Hence, when the city suffers the image of the region suffers which negatively affects investment into the region from those outside the region. Until the area outside Detroit starts to see its fate ties to the fate of Detroit...and hence be willing to invest in the city, notwithstanding how they feel about its political leader...the areas fate is doomed to relative and or absolute decline.

Its true that the city needs the suburbs more than the burbs need the city economically but there are plenty of people outside the city that cares what happens. Its just a slow process getting the people that care, with the money, to invest in the city. Peter Karmanos is someone who understands how important Detroit is to the area. Bringing Compuware downtown has been the main catylist in the business districts rebirth. Guys like former Chrysler CEO Deiter Zeitche also stressed that people of this region need to care more about what happens in Detroit. People do care. All of the recent investment downtown is a sign of that. Its just taking longer than it should.

[HolidayInnExpress]

Its true that the city needs the suburbs more than the burbs need the city economically but there are plenty of people outside the city that cares what happens. Its just a slow process getting the people that care, with the money, to invest in the city. Peter Karmanos is someone who understands how important Detroit is to the area. Bringing Compuware downtown has been the main catylist in the business districts rebirth. Guys like former Chrysler CEO Deiter Zeitche also stressed that people of this region need to care more about what happens in Detroit. People do care. All of the recent investment downtown is a sign of that. Its just taking longer than it should.

I say better late than never. I also think that it should be recognized that the ECONOMIC LEADERS of the area has the greatest sphere of influence in revitalizing the D and not the Political leader of Detroit. Hence, The Business Leaders and community decisions ultimately led to the rapid decline of Detroit and hold its recovery in their hands.

[Zissou]

I agree that the economic leaders have the greatest influence and you are beginning to see that. GM and Compuware have invested a lot of money into the city and I expect more large companies to follow. Detroits decline was in part due to the business leaders but a lot of it falls on social issues from the 40's through 60's. Businesses can only do so much to keep people from flocking the city in waves.

[rbdetsport]

http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0511/16/B01-383604.htm

[Ramcharger]

Well, it took him two weeks but Hendrix has finally asked for a recount.

Challenger to seek recount in Detroit mayor's race.

[Wordsmith]

All I can say is good luck and may it be for the best. I don't feel like driving myself crazy over this but I do agree that there are far too many irregularities.

WS

[baldy]

Here's a couple nuggets of info

All articles editted from orginal, no link provided due to it not working in < 7 days

Detroit to pay Free Press in lawsuit

From the Free Press - nov 28, 2005

The City of Detroit is expected to pay the Detroit Free Press more than $19,000 next week for violating the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

The payment -- which includes punitive damages -- ends a fight over public records that began more than two years ago, when the newspaper first requested copies of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's credit card records.

Although state law gives officials up to three weeks to comply with or deny a request for public records, city officials all but ignored the Free Press' requests and later released heavily edited copies of documents. The newspaper sued the city last year for the records.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Gershwin Drain has since ruled that the city broke the law and ordered officials to release detailed copies of requested records related to the mayor's city-issued credit card, his taxpayer-funded petty cash account and his appointment calendar.

The Free Press used those records this year to report how the mayor used the credit card to purchase expensive meals at swanky restaurants, and how the mayor and his staff used petty cash funds for personal items and staff meetings and parties, in violation of city policy.

Last month, Drain ordered the city to reimburse most of the newspaper's legal costs and pay $500 in punitive damages -- the most allowed by law for a violation of the state Freedom of Information Act.

The judge's rulings that the city provide such information and other detailed accounts of the spending of tax dollars is important because it helps establish a precedent for which records city officials must release to the public.

"The public never should have had to go through this to get the basic information about the operations of government," Free Press lawyer Cameron J. Evans said Wednesday. "And now it's costing $20,000 that could have gone to somebody's salary."

Detroit budget solution: Close shop for holidays

Those looking for building permits, services from Detroit neighborhood city halls, or help from the city's health department may be out of luck during the last two weeks of December.

The city plans to shut down all nonessential services during the last part of the holiday season, according to memos sent to department heads and union officials last week and obtained by the Free Press on Tuesday.

City officials said while essential services, such as police and fire protection and garbage pickup will not be affected, other departments will close Dec. 19-29. The administration is working out which specific services will be shut down.

Employees will be paid, but they are being asked to take vacation, comp time, or departmental leave during those two weeks to cut utility and other operational costs.

Kilpatrick calls recount a waste

Mayor moves to halt Hendrix's costly re-tally

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said he thinks a recount is a waste of time and money and has objected to challenger Freman Hendrix's request for a re-tally of the Nov. 8 vote.

In official objections filed Tuesday, Kilpatrick asked the Wayne County Board of Canvassers to deny Hendrix's petition for a recount, saying it wasn't specific enough in its charges of Election Night problems. He also says it is unlikely to change the results of an election Hendrix lost by more than 14,500 votes.

"Other than general statements, the petition does not provide any specific allegations of a fraud and/or mistake," the filing stated. "This extreme and unwarranted fiscal burden ... weighs heavily against granting the petition."

Hendrix requested a recount of all the city's 720 precincts on Nov. 22, the day the vote was certified. He said in his filing that several factors led to the request, including the clerk's office losing track of votes in nine precincts and several computer memory packs being taken home by election workers and delivered the day after the election.

Hendrix also objected to the use of so-called ambassadors by City Clerk Jackie Currie, who hired people to help elderly and disabled residents fill out absentee ballots. A judge has ruled the practice violated state law.

In requesting the recount, Hendrix said it was needed to clear up suspicions that something was fishy with the election.