Mike Duggan - Detroit

Mike Duggan is the mayor of Detroit.

Background

Before leading the DMC, Duggan was Wayne County prosecutor from 2001 to 2003 and deputy Wayne County executive (during the infamous Edward H. McNamara Administration spanning the years 1986 to 2002).

During the latter years of Duggan’s tenure he successfully managed the County’s affairs for the ailing McNamara and also played a key role helping the election campaign of Kwame Kilpatrick for mayor of Detroit in 2001, whose father, Bernard Kilpatrick, was the Administration’s Chief of Staff. Duggan played a key role in the election campaigns of many leading Democrats, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who was Wayne County corporation Counsel under McNamara, prior to becoming Michigan Attorney General and later being elected as Michigan Governor.

He has a law degree and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

2013 Mayoral Elections

Duggan was CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, a position held since January 2004, before he resigned on December 31, 2012 to pursue his campaign full-time. First seen as a challenger (and possibly a favorite) in the 2013 Detroit mayoral election, he left the race in June 2013 after the state Court of Appeals ruled that he had not been a Detroit resident long enough to be on the ballot for mayor. He later decided to continue in the race as a write-in candidate.

He won the election on November 5, 2013, with 55% of the vote (74,303 votes). His challenger, Benny Napoleon, received 60,474 votes, or 45%.

Policy positions

Focus: Reducing violence, getting streetlights on, and occupying vacant buildings, beginning in stronger neighborhoods.

Self-determination & emergency manager: Opposes an emergency manager. In 2012, before the appointment of Kevyn Orr, there was some speculation that he could be the EFM, a position he did not want. Duggan has been framing himself as a turnaround expert from his experience at SMART (1990s) and the Detroit Medical Center (2004-2012).

Detroit Works: Says it was "mishandled". Believes it is immoral to cut services to some neighborhoods and encourage people to migrate to seven-nine target neigborhoods.

It is unclear if Duggan understands that Detroit Works is two projects (long term and short term), and that service increases are planned in target neighborhoods, but cuts have been defacto over time (eg no specific cuts are planned).

City Restructuring: Opposes splitting public works off into separate public authorities (eg Public Lighting, Health & Wellness).

Belle Isle: in favor of an entrance fee. Also opposes leasing Belle Isle to the State of Michigan because it does not include a plan for regular Detroit park maintenance.