by
Social media and conversations elsewhere are awash with reaction to Dave Bing's decision not to run again. Here's part of the flow, including responses to Deadline Detroit comment requests.
Benny Napoleon, mayoral candidate: "I believe Mayor Dave Bing''s heart has been in the right place. He deserves credit for his commitment to serve." [Twitter]
Greg Bowens, aide to ex-Mayor Dennis Archer: "What's interesting about the announcement is its impact on the running of the city -- it had none. The real guy in charge, Kevin Orr, announced a new police chief for DPD on the same day. That move was a slap in the face to the mayor and voters." [Message to Deadline Detroit]
Eric Baerren, founder of MichiganLiberal.com: "Bing leaves office with a cloud of failure hanging over his mayorship. If it's true that he's thinking about challenging Bob Ficano for Wayne County Executive, it's only a sign that Ficano should probably go, too." [Blog post]
Alexis Wiley, Fox 2 reporter: "Well I definitely didn't see that coming! Bing may run for Wayne County exec! Wowww!!!" [Twitter]
Desiree Cooper, past Free Press columnist: "The fact that he'd throw out the idea of county executive says that at some point, ego has gotten in the way. . . . Now he's at risk of going from forgettable to a fool. Not good." [Facebook]
Lisa Howze, mayoral candidate: "I would like to thank Mayor Bing for his four years of dedication and commitment to the City of Detroit. I look forward to continuing the good work that he has started.” [Campaign website]
Mayor Dave Bing
Dave LewAllen, WXYZ reporter/anchor: "Never a dull moment in the D when it comes to politics! Hello Bob Ficano? Mayor Bing calling. I want your job!" [Twitter]
Curt Guyette, Metro Times news editor: "It was a job the former businessman and NBA star never seemed completely comfortable holding." [Blog post]
Joe DiSano, Lansing political consultant: "Bing forgoing re-election is bad news for Duggan. He needs a strong African-American candidate to bleed votes from Napoleon." [Facebook]
Simone Landon, ex-editor pof HuffPost Detroit: "Executive is a more apt description of Bing's job aspirations than mayor, I suppose." [Twitter]
@FreepSports: "Maybe he'll coach Pistons?" [Twitter]
Brian Dickerson, Free Press columnist: "I'm giving him 24 hours to tell us he was just kidding about the second part." [Facebook]
Mike Duggan, mayoral candidate: "Mayor Dave Bing stepped up to accept a difficult task at a very challenging time and succeeded in bringing integrity back to city hall." [Facebook]
Bud Prine, Brighton: "A good man but WAY over his head. This is good news." [Detroit News reader comment]
Dennis Lennox, Midland puiblic affairs consultant: "It frankly does not matter who holds the mayoralty of Detroit. To return responsible, effective and accountable government to . . . precincts of Detroit, it is time to either amalgamate the city government with that of Wayne County . . . or abolish the city government, as we know it, and replace it with smaller boroughs." [Email]
Lamont Corbin, Detroit voter: "He wouldn't have made it past the primary anyway." [Detroit News comment thread]
Jeff Vaughn, WXYZ reporter/anchor: "Tough decision to bow out, I'm sure." [Twitter]
Aaron Foley, blogger: "As the window closes today for mayoral candidates to file petitions to run, Ryan Gosling's name was not on the list." [Jalopnik Detroit]
Tiffany Shaw, Detroit voter: "If he runs against Ficano, he has my vote." [Free Press comment thread]
Aaron Kulkis, Royal Oak systems engineer: "Bing is the best mayor Detroit has had in my entire lifetime." [Detroit News comment thread]
Bill Jentzen, Ferndale: "A wise decision, Mr. Bing. Leave now, take care of your health, and preserve what sanity you have left." [Detroit News comment thread]
