Saunteel Jenkins and Mary Sheffield outside of Cody High School
Former Detroit mayoral candidate Saunteel Jenkins, who endorsed Mary Sheffield this week after a contentious primary battle, told reporters Wednesday she isn’t currently interested in a cabinet position in a Sheffield administration, should she win the general election Nov. 4.
Jenkins endorsed Sheffield for mayor of Detroit at Cody High School Wednesday morning beside a tree planted in dedication to Jenkins’ late brother, who was killed by gun violence when he was a high school freshman. Jenkins recounted her brother’s death, saying her and Sheffield agree investing in youth is the way to stop more gun deaths.
“The tree here to the right of us was planted in my brother’s honor after he died,” Jenkins said. “So this day isn’t just about him, but all the babies who are right now in that school learning and preparing for their future and about kids all over the city who deserve to live in a city free of gun violence.”
Sheffield’s staff wore orange ribbons to bring awareness to gun violence, an issue that both candidates outlined similar strategies to combat. Jenkins wore orange, while Sheffield wore purple — the color that Jenkins used prominently throughout her campaign.
Jenkins, a former city council president and CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund, cited the potential history Sheffield would make if she defeated Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., becoming Detroit’s first woman mayor. She also pointed to the city council president’s commitment to public safety, and dedication to strengthening education as key reasons for her endorsement.
“I would love for Saunteel Jenkins to be a part of a Sheffield administration,” Sheffield said Wednesday. “But I think it’s really up to what she sees best for her leadership and what she can bring. I know she brings a tremendous value to the city, one that I think can benefit the progress and the growth of our city. We have already aligned on these two important issues, and I’m going to be leaning to her for support on education and gun violence in Detroit. We’re going to continue to have more conversations on how that looks moving forward.”
However, when asked by reporters after the press conference, Jenkins said she’s not really interested.
“For the first time since I was 17, I’m like, Okay, I don’t have anything to do today,” she said. “I’m just enjoying not having anything to do right now.”
Jenkins added that she has been improving her golf game, including a hole-in-one at the same hole her husband scored a hole-in-one a few years ago at the Detroit Golf Club.
Jenkins and Sheffield were complimentary of each other for the first time Wednesday after an on stage back and forth at a candidate forum and a televised debate, as well as a public argument between the candidates at a senior home.
Sheffield told mayoral opponent and nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins while talking to seniors the former city council president left the city “at the worst of times” during Detroit’s bankruptcy to become the CEO of a nonprofit.
“…(Jenkins) did not receive the votes to become the president, one month later, she left the city at the worst of times during the bankruptcy and left to go work as a CEO,” Sheffield told the room of seniors in February. “You were in the middle of a bankruptcy, going through the worst of times.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t let that stand,” Jenkins can be heard responding to Sheffield before the person recording ends the video.
The pair also exchanged words at a candidate forum at Wayne County Community College in May.
After Jenkins accused Sheffield of not being an active participant in community feedback to the I-375 project, Sheffield shot back, saying the reason she hasn’t talked to her about the project is because, “I don’t talk, I do.”
Jenkins at the WDIV debate told residents that if they wanted a mayor who will show up for Instagram, but not meetings, to “follow Mary.”
Jenkins didn’t directly acknowledged her attacks against Sheffield when asked, but said that she believes Sheffield is the best candidate remaining.
“A lot of things were said in a primary with nine candidates,” Jenkins said. “Today, we have two candidates, and I’m standing next to the candidate that I believe is best suited to be the next mayor of the city… What happens during the primary was what happens in every political campaign where we’re all opponents, and I really think Mary and I ran a really strong, fierce campaign.”
Jenkins said she had a conversation with Kinloch after he defeated her by a percentage point in the municipal primary election.
“I’ve had a conversation with pretty much every candidate that ran for mayor in this race, including council president Sheffield and Pastor Solomon Kinloch,” Jenkins said. “So we’ve all had conversations and I believe my relationships that I’ve had all along with continue post election.”
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