We should always seek the strongest leadership for public offices. Each era calls for different styles of leadership, driven by distinct policy agendas.
This fall, City of Detroit residents will go to the polls to elect the next Mayor and City Council. Voters need candidates that are strong, bold and driven by policies that will continue to stabilize the city’s finances and make it a more competitive and thriving place to live and do business.
The last 20 years in Detroit’s history have brought about tremendous change. Through the commitment of longtime city residents, new city residents, billionaire trailblazers, legacy establishments, century-old companies and businesses that are just beginning, billions of dollars have been invested in our city.
We stand at a time where the automotive industry is changing, the way people live and work is changing, the physical space we use is changing and technology is surging forward.
Along with all this change, our city continues to diversify. As we look toward the future, we need leadership that can harness these moving pieces in a positive direction. At the same time, our next City of Detroit Mayor must be able to get the fundamentals of city administration in top working order.
Comprised of leaders from business, labor, government and education institutions, the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) has served as the civic organization for the Detroit Region since 1958. With the upcoming election, our board identified the next mayoral election as the number one priority for 2025.
Our organization does not make candidate endorsements. As a close ally to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments with 185 local government members from throughout Southeast Michigan, MAC does have a pulse on local government leadership. From our policy platform, guiding principles and priorities identified by MAC board members, we identified the following goals as the most critical for Detroit mayoral candidate platforms.
These areas are essential for creating a thriving community that serves the full diversity of our residents and businesses. Our call to action is for candidates to specify
policies and commit to positive action on these goals.
Make a strong Detroit for all
- Continue to build success by embedding economic and social sustainability across all
neighborhoods and communities. - Find the most critical competitive issue and tackle it. Pick a structural economic issue and fix it.
Be the future
- Support growth of cutting-edge Detroit companies and entrepreneurs.
- Be a magnet for national and international talent.
- Market, recruit and attract next stage companies to help build the future economy of the city.
- Create a stable business environment to increase investment and good jobs.
Recognize the uniqueness of Detroiters
- Celebrate and leverage the diversity of Detroiters and the city itself.
- Lean into the “Detroit Got Grit” identity.
Connect Detroit, visitors and residents to nature
- Increase access to outdoor activities for all residents and visitors.
- Work with philanthropic organizations, conservancies, state and federal agencies to invest and grow outdoor recreational assets.
- Ensure the sustainability of these assets through further investment and enhancement of natural resources.
Create the land of opportunity
- Connect with all talent and education entities and institutions.
- Ensure Detroiters have multiple pathways to success.
Be the place where the region can connect
- Strengthen connections within the region and support a united front.
- Be the place for all southeast Michigan communities to come together and share a common dentity.
Attract positive national attention
- Set a national example for city leadership.
- Create and maintain strong state and federal partnerships.
The Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) is a non-profit public/private partnership dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life in Southeast Michigan. It is the only group comprised of leaders in business, labor, government and education who work cooperatively to address regional issues and serve as a catalyst for change. MAC works closely with its partner organization, SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, and benefits from its expertise, research, data collection and analysis.