Seven candidates competing to become the next mayor of Detroit participated in a forum at Riverside Marina on Saturday, where they shared their plans for the city following Mayor Mike Duggan’s decision not to seek re-election. The event, organized by the African American Leadership Institute, covered topics such as economic opportunity, housing, and public safety, with a focus on preparing for the expiration of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in late 2026.
According to Michigan Advance, former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins and City Council President Mary Sheffield highlighted the need to continue essential programs after federal COVID-19 relief funds expire. Affordable housing was a central issue at the forum, as candidates outlined strategies to address the city's housing challenges.
Voter interest in the candidates’ qualifications and priorities was evident. Caryl Conway, an undecided voter, told CBS Detroit, “I want to find out their qualifications, what their concerns are, and how they apply to me and my community.”
City Councilmember Fred Durhal III addressed childcare costs, stating, “Paying $2,000 a month to have childcare for your children is crazy. And so imagine if you are a single parent, mother or father, and you have to go to work, you have to take your child to daycare. You have to rush there. You gotta get there before six o’clock and they charge you a premium if you don’t. This is reality,” as reported by Michigan Advance.
Discussion also centered on the city’s financial future. Attorney Todd Perkins suggested legal action could be an option to secure funding after ARPA support ends. “Whether it be the United States America versus or Perkins Law Group versus, I’ve been on one side of that ‘v’, and I’m not afraid of confrontation because out of confrontation and discord, we get understanding,” he said, as quoted by Michigan Advance.
The Detroit News reported that both Mary Sheffield and Fred Durhal III emphasized the city council’s efforts to prepare for the transition away from ARPA funds.
The primary election is set for August 5, with the general election scheduled for November 4. Candidates will continue to engage with voters and present their plans for Detroit’s future. Tashawna Gill, Michigan director for Supermajority, highlighted the role of Black women voters in the race, telling CBS Detroit, “We will. When we speak, they listen, and we’ve got to make our voices heard.”
