Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence Announces Bid For Congress

DETROIT (WWJ) - Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence on Wednesday announced her bid to run in the 2014 U.S. House of Representatives election in November.

During the 2012 Democratic primary election for the 14th Congressional District in Michigan, Lawrence finished behind U. S. Representative Gary Peters and former U.S Representative Hanson Clarke for a seat in Washington D.C.

With a population of over 700,000, according to the 2010 census, the district stretches from eastern Detroit westward to Farmington Hills, then north to the suburbs of Auburn Hills.

Mayor Lawrence spoke with WWJ's Chrystal Knight about her vision for serving the entire district and bridging the gap of separation between Wayne and Oakland County.

"I don't see 8 Mile as a border or a wall that you have to cross," Lawrence said. "I see it as a street that you have to cross to continue in this district."

Although she finished third in the last election, Lawrence will take a different approach to ensure victory this time around.

"This time I am looking at this race very strategically," she said. "I plan on raising money and really stay connected with the people of this district."

If she wins, Lawrence said that the first issues on her agenda to tackle would be improving the roads and bringing in more money for education throughout the district.

"I will be fighting for funds to increase allocations to Michigan to increase infrastructure of roads," Lawrence said. "Also education because if you ask anybody, regardless of income or zip code, everyone wants their children to be educated."

Joining Lawrence in the election will be State Representative Rudy Hobbs of Southfield, businessman Maurice Morton, Senators Vincent Gregory of Southfield, Bert Johnson of Highland Park, and Jessica McCall, a former staff member of former governor Jennifer Granholm and President Barack Obama.

The election is set to take place Nov. 4, 2014.