Ex-Deputy Mayor of Detroit Leading Polls

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-Deputy Mayor of Detroit Leading Polls

Tuesday August 2, 2005 10:01 AM


By ADRIENNE SCHWISOW
Associated Press Writer

DETROIT (AP) - Candidates running for Detroit mayor spread out over the city seeking last-minute support as embattled Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Freman Hendrix, chief of staff to Kilpatrick's predecessor, appeared to be the candidates to beat.

Both men have more money than the other 10 candidates in the race. Polls show Hendrix leading, with Kilpatrick running second. The top two vote-getters Tuesday will face each other in the November general election.
(snip)

Hendrix, 54, was a deputy in the administration of former Mayor Dennis Archer. He tells voters he'll cooperate more with the suburbs, improve city services and cut unnecessary departments - but not police or firefighters - to help the cash-strapped city balance its budget.

He has raised three times as much money as the mayor this year, nearly matching Kilpatrick's war chest of around $1.5 million. And without frequently and explicitly mentioning Kilpatrick's personal missteps and clashes with the City Council, Hendrix makes a practice of reminding voters of the mayor's problems by emphasizing the importance of integrity and civility.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5183598,00.html



Freman Hendrix and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick

[NWHarkness]

1. What's with the pictures?

Freeman with some Union guys, Kwame with Bush?

Both guys are liberal Democrats, running in a city that votes 90% Dem. Isn't that a bit unfair?

[noonwitch]

2. All's fair-Kwame's got to go

Kwame is running ads trashing Freeman Hendrix for the state takeover of the schools (by Gov. Engler)while Dennis Archer was mayor. What he fails to mention is that Kwame as a state legislator at the time, voted for the takeover by the state.

His ads have a theme of "let him finish what he started" or "he got us through the blackout". This is a guy who used police funds to lease his wife a Lincoln Navigator, and who used police funds to pay overtime to his "guards" while he had strippers in the mayoral mansion and went partying around places like DC on what were supposed to be working trips.

Sharon McPhail is not much better. "Kwame tried to electrocute me" and she also married the one-time superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools. They used school resources for their wedding and didn't pay for it. She's also promising a free college education for any kid graduating from Detroit high schools, and says casino money can pay for it. She shouldn't make promises that there is no way she can keep.
I voted for her in 1993, based on her solid record in the prosecutor's office, but swore after the wedding thing that I would never vote for her again.

[NWHarkness]

4. And what does that have to do with Bush?

It's not a question of whether or not Kwame deserves to be re-elected, it's a question of what Democrats are willing to do to attack other Democrats.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Maybe this will help, but I doubt it.

You're welcome to take a run to google images and grab one yourself. I'm not acquainted with the man, or his politics, so I grabbed the first one on the first page which looked presentable and pasted it in.

Here's the Mayor with Hillary Clinton. I have to admit I did NOT see it when I glanced over this page earlier:



Here he is giving blood. The accompanying article was complimentary to the town and to the mayor.



http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_497_2175,00.html

Here's the page I scanned quickly looking for a photo:
http://images.google.com/images?q=Kwame+Kilpatrick+&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N
Maybe you might choose a better one. I hope this will help.

[booksenkatz]

6. I'm trying to think of one single photo

that would change my opinion of Kwame. Can't think of one, however.

KK's gotta go. (And I was on his side in those early days, very hope-filled, boy was I ever wrong.)

[NWHarkness]

7. OK, fair enough

I hope you see my point. Kwame Kilpatrick may be a jerk, he may be a lousy mayor, but he's a Democrat. I thought your choice of images was a guilt by association attack. Obviously, that is not the case, and I apologize if you took offense.

[goclark]

8. McPhail is scum - trust me

You would be wise not to ever vote for her again.

[Strawman]

3. Great quote by Hendrix

``My commitment to the people is, I'll never embarrass them as mayor,'' Hendrix said in a recent interview."

That's exactly what he should say.