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Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and Mary Sheffield
It's always tough to say just how influential political endorsements are. That being said, they're still coveted and considered a prize worth working for.
UAW President Shawn Fain recently announced he was endorsing Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for mayor of Detroit. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of Michigan is backing City Council President Mary Sheffield to replace Mayor Mike Duggan.
“In this election, Detroit needs a champion who will fight for the working class and build a city that works for everyone — not just the few,” Fain said in a statement, according to BridgeDetroit. “Rev. Kinloch has the heart, the vision, and the moral leadership to deliver for working people.”
The pastor was a member of UAW Local 235 when he worked at American Axle, as he noted during a mayoral forum hosted by the AFL-CIO, BridgeDetroit reported.
“The union taught me solidarity,” Kinloch said at the April 29 event. “When you see your brother and your sister struggling and straining on the field, you don’t just stay in the stands. What you do is come down out of the stands and do everything you can in order to advance the cause on the field.”
Brandice Mullen, vice president of SEIU Michigan, said, according to BridgeDetroit:
“Mary Sheffield is a proven champion for the critical work and services SEIU Michigan members deliver for Detroit. She knows that when unions thrive, everyone benefits — from our communities to the economy.”
“Endorsements can generate publicity; they can generate attention, and raising awareness does make a difference for some people,” said Karen Dumas, a veteran communications strategist who served under multiple mayoral administrations, in an interview with Bridge Detroit. “But we (as voters) have to sort through everything and look at the candidate. What have they done? What are they now promising to do that they could have done before? What skill set are they bringing?”
Former Council President Saunteel Jenkins has the backing of former Mayor Dave Bing. Detroit Councilman Fred Durhal III has the support of some mayors across the state.
Sheffield has also received endorsements from outsiders, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and attorney Ben Crump.
Mayor Duggan is sitting out the August primary. It's yet to be determined if he'll endorse anyone in the general election in November.
