Cockrel is 43 and holds a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University. He has a long political history with the city that dates back to 1998. He is currently the acting mayor of Detroit.
Detroit Connections:
Cockrel resides in the Woodbridge neighborhood of the city, where he is raising five children. He says he’s more in touch with Detroit residents than opponent Dave Bing and has dealt with the city’s problems first hand.
Political History:
Cockrel served as Wayne County Commissioner from 1995 to 1997. He became a member of the Detroit City Council in 1998 and its president in 2006. He is currently serving as acting mayor of Detroit, pending the special election for Kilpatrick’s permanent successor. As acting mayor, Cockrel cites several accomplishments:
- Cockrel conducted an internal investigation and removed several Kilpatrick’s appointees and cancelled $2 million in questionable city contracts.
- He opened four police mini-stations.
- He secured federal stimulus funds.
Vision:
Cockrel’s candidacy is about change. Since taking over from Kilpatrick, he has worked to move Detroit forward through difficult times. He is anti-Kilpatrick in thought and deed and seeks to restore honesty and integrity to the office through transparency.
Priorities:
- Ambassador Bridge: Cockrel is not convinced that there is a need for a second span. He is also not convinced a second span should be located next to the original Ambassador Bridge because of the affect on traffic patterns and the neighborhood.
- Budget: Cockrel promises honest accounting. In this regard, one of his first acts as mayor was to launch an investigation into city finances, which he later likened to peeling back an onion. The investigation uncovered a $300 million deficit. After several delays, he introduced a deficit-reduction plan at the end of January, 2009. Among other things, the plan called for a 10% pay cut for city workers to avoid massive layoffs.
Cockrel's proposed 2009-2010 budget incorporates elements from his deficit-reduction plan. The proposed budget was unveiled in April, 2009 and includes approximately 800 layoffs (the bulk of which are from already vacant positions). The budget also calls for the city to institute an early retirement program, eliminate questionable city contracts, and look to existing city assets for an income stream. For example, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and municipal parking lots would be leased to private entities.
- Charter Revision/Districts: Cockrel does not oppose changing the way in which city council members are elected. He believes the city's charter should be revised.
- City Revitalization: Cockrel would consider a plan to extend a light rail down Woodward Avenue.
- Cobo: An expansion deal was crafted under Cockrel that would turn Cobo over to a five-member authority made up of representatives from both the city and the suburbs. In addition to funding a Cobo Center expansion, the deal would have saved the city $15 million a year in maintenance costs, thereby making a small dent in the city's deficit. The deal was voted down by Detroit’s City Council.
- Crime: Cockrel has opened four mini-stations in an attempt to bring more officers into the neighborhoods. The stations are manned with reserve officers, sworn officers and civilian volunteers. He has also addressed abandoned buildings and has taken steps to establish a relationship between Detroit’s public schools and its police department. In the future, he plans to use stimulus money to hire more officers.
- Environment: As acting mayor, Cockrel implemented a pilot recycling program. He plans to institute energy-saving practices as another strategy toward reducing the city budget. He also plans to create a green council and a “Green Thumbs Up” program aimed at reducing neighborhood blight and educating the public.
- Jobs: Cockrel plans to redevelop the existing Workforce Development Department. Under the plan, the department would work to facilitate partnerships between businesses, nonprofits and colleges.
- Opponents: Cockrel thinks Bing is out of touch because he has not lived in the city for a long time.
- Personal Sacrifice: In an effort to save the city money, Cockrel said he would reduce his own salary by 20%. He already chose not to live in Manoogian Mansion, take a city car (Navigator) or travel with a full contingent of bodyguards.
- Schools: Cockrel believes the mayor’s office has accountability for the Detroit Public Schools. He has already met with the DPS superintendent.
- Transparency/Integrity: After an internal investigation, Cockrel replaced several Kilpatrick appointees. He also added reformers Saul Green and Joseph Harris to his cabinet and cancelled $2 million in questionable city contracts as a result. Cockrel also instituted regular town hall meetings and worked toward transparency in the city budget.
