Two debates have been scheduled for Detroiters to hear from both mayoral candidates after the primary election.
City Council President Mary Sheffield and Triumph Church pastor Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., the top vote getters during the Aug. 5 primary election, will pitch their visions for the future of the city on stage one-on-one for the first time Wednesday, October 15, at 7 p.m. at WXYZ-TV’s Southfield studios.
You can watch the debate on Channel 7 and online streaming.
Chuck Stokes and Carolyn Clifford are moderating the debate.
On Thursday, Roop Raj, host of Fox 2’s The Pulse, announced both campaigns agreed to a debate on the program on Oct. 27.
“We are excited to host Mary Sheffield and Solomon Kinloch on Detroit’s only nightly political talk show,” Raj said on social media.
Sheffield has emerged as the clear front runner since the primary election.
She is supported by unions, billionaires and nearly 51% of voters in the primary election.
Kinloch received 17% of the vote on Aug. 5.
Sheffield has new billboards paid for by a pro-Duggan PAC with donors including the Moroun family. She launched a “Mary for Everybody” Detroit Vs. Everybody collab. She’s even got rappers congratulating her months ahead of the Nov. 4 election.
The pastor, who is endorsed by the UAW, the AFSCME Michigan, the 12th and 13th District Democratic Congressional Party, has been hosting community forums and fundraisers with church members and supporters.
Kinloch’s campaign took aim at Sheffield over her acceptance of tickets to a black-tie Jeezy concert last month she says she gave away to community members.
The city charter strictly prohibits elected officials from taking gifts.
“Detroiters still carry the scars of systemic corruption,” Kinloch said in a press release following the news report. “That culture of corruption bankrupted our city and destroyed public trust. We rewrote the charter in 2012 to stop it. But here we are again, watching leaders trade their public office for personal perks.”
Detroit Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet said there was no ethics violation in response to reporting from the Detroit Free Press that questions whether Sheffield broke city rules by requesting and accepting the tickets from Comerica Bank.
Mallet is a longtime ally of Mayor Mike Duggan, who has endorsed Sheffield.
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