by
Mary Sheffield and Saunteel Jenkins
In a move it called rare, the Michigan Chronicle is endorsing two candidates rather than one in the Aug. 5 Detroit mayoral primary: City Council President Mary Sheffield and former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins.
The two top candidates in the primary will face off in the general election.
"We believe Detroit’s future is best served by ensuring that the fall race is between these two formidable women: one a nonprofit executive and former City Council President with a pragmatic, operations-based vision; the other a progressive policy leader and current Council President with a bold agenda rooted in housing justice and youth empowerment," the Chronicle writes.
"Let this election be what Detroit deserves: a contest between the two most capable and qualified candidates on the ballot."
On Jenkins, the Michigan Chronicle writes:
"Few candidates bring the resume that Saunteel Jenkins does. A former Detroit City Council President and current CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), Jenkins is deeply familiar with the operational and human challenges facing Detroit. At THAW, she has helped thousands of Detroiters maintain access to basic utilities, bringing compassion and management skill to one of the city’s most urgent needs."
On Sheffield, the publication states:
"There’s no denying Mary Sheffield’s influence on the direction of Detroit’s policy agenda over the last decade. As current City Council President and the youngest woman ever elected to the Council, she has carved out a clear identity: progressive, people-centered, and unapologetically focused on the needs of Detroit’s most vulnerable."
The Michigan Chronicle also gives honorable mention to Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and City Councilman Fred Durhal III.
"While Jenkins and Sheffield represent the two most complete and ready visions for Detroit’s next chapter, another candidate in the field who deserves serious recognition is Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr."
On Durhal, the publication writes:
"Fred Durhal III, a current city councilmember and former state representative with a deep understanding of Michigan politics, has unmatched experience in Lansing, where many of Detroit’s most important funding and policy battles are ultimately decided."
The Detroit News has endorsed Jenkins, and the Free Press is backing Sheffield.
Early voting in person in Detroit starts on July 26th and runs through Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find the voting sites click here.
