Michigan Matters Exclusive: Mayoral Debates Continue
By CBS 62 staff
With the clock ticking down to the Nov. 5 election, mayoral candidates Mike Duggan and Benny Napoleon met in their second forum at the Detroit Economic Club where they talked of crime, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and moving into Manoogian Mansion.
The Economic Club "Conversation with the Candidates" was moderated by Carol Cain, senior producer/host of CBS 62's "Michigan Matters" who posed questions. You can hear portions of that on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 11:30 a.m. in a special "Michigan Matters" show.
"I'm not looking to be a pretender. I'm looking to be the real mayor," Duggan said when asked about moving into the home on the city's east which is one of the perks of being mayor. Napoleon said he would not move as he owns a beautiful home in Detroit that he intends to stay in.
Duggan was asked if there was anything in the emails between he and Gov. Rick Snyder or those in his administration about the appointment of an emergency manager or his being interested in the job.
"Absolutely not," Duggan said, adding he had been approached two years ago by Snyder aides who said Detroit's finances were failing and an emergency manager might need. "I told them flat out, no, that I don't think the governor has the right to pick the leader of the city of Detroit," Duggan said.
Napoleon was asked to clear up his role in the idled construction of a new downtown Wayne County Jail amid huge cost overruns.
"Zero, zip, nada," Napoleon said, placing blame on the administration of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.
The candidates appeared just three days after their first televised debate where they participated in "Michigan Matters: The Great Debate for Mayor of Detroit" which aired on CBS 62. Cain moderated the CBS debate with WWJ Newsradio 950 morning anchor Tom Jordan, political pundit Cliff Russell and Michigan Chronicle Senior Editor Bankole Thomson also posing questions.
The hour-long CBS debate will be repeated Sunday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. on WKBD-TV CW 50.
Top issue before Detroit?
As part of the "Michigan Matters" special airing Sunday, Oct 27, at 11:30 a.m., other leaders also took time to talk about issues in the Motor City.
"Blight is the biggest problem facing Detroit because blight is the cancer causing the majority of the City's fire and criminal issues," said Bill Pulte, founder of Detroit Blight Authority and CEO of Pulte Capital Partners LLC.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said: " Right sizing city government and, recognizing that crime is not just a law enforcement concern. A restructuring of the Criminal Justice System is necessary to better assess and address criminals and their activity."
Added Kelly Rossman-McKinney, CEO of Truscott Rossman PR: "The number one issue is to improve livability throughout the city so we can reverse population decline and begin to retain -- and attract -- new residents and businesses."
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You can watch "Michigan Matters" featuring the two candidates and interviews with several leaders at the Detroit Economic Club luncheon on Sunday, Oct 27 at 11:30 a.m. on CBS 62.
You can watch a repeat of "Michigan Matters: The Great Debate for Mayor of Detroit" at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct 27 on WKBD-TV CW50.
