Detroit’s next mayor will face challenges. Challenges different from those which Mayor Mike Duggan faced when taking office amid the city’s bankruptcy.
The city’s next leader must continue the momentum in Detroit’s progress and include more residents, who may be left out, in its resurgence, Saunteel Jenkins told the Free Press. Jenkins, a former Detroit City Council member, is running for mayor this year and believes the city needs a strong leader rooted in the community and understanding its needs. Mayor Mike Duggan is not seeking reelection to pursue a run for governor in 2026 as an independent candidate.
“At the end of the day, you’re the CEO of the city. Having executive experience … I think, is crucial. Understanding both the business community and the grassroots community, and having experience with both understanding public policy and being able to bring resources home on the local, state and federal level is going to be important for our next mayor, and I believe I bring all those things to the table,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins, 54, was elected to serve on City Council in 2009 and again in 2013, but she resigned early into her second term to pursue an executive role with The Heat and Warmth Fund, a nonprofit that provides utility assistance to Michigan residents. She spent the latter part of her first term through her resignation working through the city’s bankruptcy.
Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins
“I was on the front lines, doing the work during our most difficult financial time in this city’s history. As we were exiting bankruptcy, like literally my last week at Council, we were at the federal courts announcing our exit from bankruptcy. The plan of adjustment was in place. The Financial Review Committee had already been decided as a part of this 10-year plan moving forward, and the judge had already approved the plans,” Jenkins said.
‘God-given opportunity’ to lead THAW
During her tenure on City Council, she prioritized building coalitions and advancing businesses amid the city’s most turbulent time, Jenkins said. She also led and helped pass anti-bullying legislation and created a task force dedicated to preventing violence among youth. Jenkins also chaired the economic development committee, and said she not only advanced development in the city, but ensured there were “enforceable requirements” for developers leaning on incentives, including some type of clawbacks if certain milestones were not met.
Though she resigned once the opportunity came along at THAW because she felt Detroit was “on the road to recovery” and she could not pass up a “God-given opportunity” to make a difference in another way through an organization that hit close to home.
“When I say my life is a reflection of the challenges and the strengths of Detroit, I mean that in every way I know personally … what it’s like to live in a house with no heat, no electricity, because my parents struggled, like so many Detroiters do … I was at THAW with my mom when I was in high school applying for assistance,” Jenkins said. “I had this opportunity to provide a service for people who struggled, like me and my family.”
Jenkins grew up in Detroit’s Cody Rouge neighborhood. Her father was a mailman, her mother retired from Macy’s, which was previously Hudson’s, and she lost her brother, who was 14 years old, to gun violence in the neighborhood. She graduated from Cass Technical High School and pursued a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Wayne State University.
“I think so much of who I am reflects both the strengths and the challenges in Detroit and who we are, and having that understanding. At this moment in time where we’re on this great trajectory and everybody’s talking about all the good things that are happening, but also understanding because I was there during the bankruptcy and understand what led to it, I know that we’re still at this critical and very fragile point. Who our next mayor is matters so much, and they will determine the trajectory of the city for decades to come,” Jenkins said.
Reason to think about her ‘true purpose’
Her decision to run stems from several reasons. Many from the community, including her friends and business networks, have suggested it to her over the years, but she brushed it off.
“For most of the time, it’s not something that I’ve seriously considered. And the past couple of years, the things that have made me consider it more, certainly one is where the city is and the importance of this moment in the city’s history, but … during COVID, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Jenkins said. “That kind of thing really makes you start to think about your true purpose. The fact that I’m standing here and there were lots of people that were in that same treatment room with me that didn’t get to walk out, that means I have to put it all on the table.”
Jenkins is cancer-free, she added. But that was the pivotal moment when she began to seriously consider a run for mayor. Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield also announced her run for mayor and began fundraising early on, sparking donors from the community to businesses. Each candidate captured big bucks from large donors and numerous contributions from the community.
“I think the one important piece of that for me is that I don’t currently hold an elected office. Anybody who’s donating to me at this moment is donating to me, simply because they believe in my leadership, period.” Jenkins said.
Other candidates who formed committees for mayor include City Council President Mary Sheffield, Councilman Fred Durhal III, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate and businessman Joel Haashiim.
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana This is a developing story.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former Detroit City Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins to run for mayor