DETROIT (AP) - Democrat Mike Duggan will seek a third consecutive 4-year term as Detroit’s mayor, he announced Wednesday.
Duggan announced his reelection campaign during a livestreamed message to city residents and supporters that included endorsements from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit NAACP branch President the Rev. Wendell Anthony and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.
“Big city mayors last one term, maybe two because of the strain of the job these days,” Duggan said. “Politics is so rough, so brutal it beats them down. But you’ve made this job a joy, and I still want to come to work every single day.”
The nonpartisan primary will be held in August. The top two vote-getters then will face off in the November 2021 general election.
Duggan easily defeated then-state Sen. Coleman Young II in the 2017 general election. Young is the son of Detroit’s first Black mayor, Coleman A. Young.
Duggan first was elected mayor in 2013, months after a state-appointed manager filed for Detroit’s historic bankruptcy. Initially, Duggan had limited power over city finances and other operations in his first year in office, but he and the City Council eventually regained control after Detroit’s December 2014 bankruptcy exit.
The bankruptcy allowed Detroit to restructure or shed billions of dollars in debt.
Under Duggan’s leadership, the city has had balanced budgets and strengthened police, fire and other city services. He has attacked blight in Detroit and pushed a demolition program that has seen tens of thousands of vacant houses demolished.
He’s also worked with the City Council, businesses and unions to bring jobs to the city, including about 4,100 that went to Detroit residents at Fiat Chrysler’s new auto plant on the city’s east side.
Detroit has been aggressive in providing COVID-19 virus testing for city employees and residents, in addition to telling residents about the importance of wearing protective masks.
“Mayor Duggan stepped up and he stepped up early in this pandemic,” said Whitmer, who has been criticized by some for shutting down businesses to slow the spread of the virus. “I count myself fortunate to have the constant partnership of Mayor Duggan throughout the entirety of this pandemic.”
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