Watch CBS News

Mike Duggan Makes Surprise Visit To Lansing, Huddles With State Leaders

LANSING (WWJ) The new Mayor-elect of Detroit, Mike Duggan, isn't wasting any time getting comfortable with the leaders in Lansing -- who control the city's finances.

Duggan made a surprise visit to the state Capitol Tuesday, where he huddled with the House Republican speaker, the House Democratic leader, the two leaders of the state Senate. He had lunch with Gov. Rick Snyder's chief of staff and started the day with 10 of the 15 members of the Detroit legislative delegation.

"We're all on the same team now," Duggan said.

While the former CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, and the first white mayor of Detroit in 40 years makes inroads in Lansing, one question remains -- What authority will he have while the state's emergency manager Kevyn Orr is in place in Detroit? Whether Duggan or opponent Benny Napoleon could better gain control was a central tenet of their hard-fought election campaigns, along with which one could better make Detroit safer and improve the infrastructure and neighborhood quality of life.

Duggan said he thinks he'll have as much authority as he's able to prove he deserves.

"Whatever authority I have to run the city depends on my ability to persuade the governor and the emergency manager that I can improve the quality of life faster than is being done right now," Duggan said. "That's the case I'm trying to make."

He takes office January 1.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.