Detroit mayoral candidates attack issues and each other during heated debate

Detroit’s mayoral candidates came out swinging during a debate televised on WXYZ.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. used the time to both address issues and criticize each other with increasingly personal attacks.

Morning Edition – Detroit Host Pat Batcheller asked WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter about the messages the candidates were sending to voters.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: They agreed on several core issues. They said Detroiters need better access to affordable housing, more investment in neighborhood communities and additional methods to fight crime and poverty.

Council president Mary Sheffield said she worked with outgoing Mayor Mike Duggan to deliver Detroit from bankruptcy.

But she wants to cut even more red tape to bring new business to the city at a time when federal Covid relief funding is running out.

QK: Reverend Kinloch is a political newcomer. But he says he is well-versed in one of the long-standing complaints in Detroit, that residents in the outer-ring neighborhoods just don’t feel the benefits from the investments made downtown since the city emerged from bankruptcy.

Pat Batcheller, WDET News: Neither Sheffield nor Kinloch are incumbents in this campaign. But Sheffield has served for a dozen years on the City Council. How did that play into the debate?

QK: Kinloch questioned just how effective Sheffield has been on Council.

She touted numerous programs she initiated, especially in regards to affordable housing and fighting crime.

Sheffield also alleged Kinloch did little to use his bully church pulpit to aid those efforts.

PB: That was only one in a series of contentious exchanges between the two candidates. And they seemed to become more personal as the debate wore on.

QK: Yes. In fact, the two traded accusations about possible corruption in their financial dealings.

Kinloch, who is in effect the challenger of a veteran, if young, incumbent government official, cast Sheffield as someone more interested in headlines and social media posts then residents’ concerns.

PB: Do we have any idea how this is all playing with voters?

QK: We gained a small window on those opinions courtesy of WDET’s Alex McLenon, who was with voters at a debate watch party.

He talked with Detroiter Chiara Clayton, who says she was not a fan of the attacking style of either candidate.

QK: We’ll see if that happens during the joint appearances the candidates have set over the next few weeks.