Detroit mayor candidate and attorney Todd Perkins wasn’t invited to participate in the mayoral debate on Mackinac Island Thursday, but he didn’t let that stop him from joining the policy conference.

Perkins told BridgeDetroit he paid his own way to meet business and political leaders and that he’s “busting through a door that was not open for me,” showing he’s a serious candidate. 

“I wasn’t invited, this is a cost that we’ve incurred personally and professionally,” Perkins said. “That level of investment, I hope endears me to them and makes them understand that not only am I a serious candidate but I’m serious enough to put my money where my mouth is.”

Five candidates were invited to participate in the mayoral debate and all had their travel costs offset by the Detroit Regional Chamber’s political action committee.

The candidates were invited based on their fundraising, polling numbers, endorsements and leadership experience and included: Detroit Police Chief James Craig, City Council Member Fred Durhal III, former nonprofit CEO and Council President Saunteel Jenkins, Triumph Church Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and Council President Mary Sheffield.

Perkins watched from the audience.

Perkins said Detroiters are more engaged in this election than past years, and he expects higher voter turnout. He thinks it will take 30,000 votes to advance from the primary. His campaign team plans to knock on at least 50,000 doors.

“I hope it doesn’t become a popularity contest,” Perkins said. “When I have an opportunity to engage in the neighborhoods, I can win people over.” 

Perkins acknowledged Mackinac Island is about as far from Detroit’s neighborhoods as one can get in Michigan. He reflected on conversations he’s had with residents who “feel like they’ve been forgotten.” They tell him public safety is the biggest issue affecting neighborhoods. 

Perkins said he would expand neighborhood police officers and create community councils that would work together to address safety issues in Detroit’s distinct communities. 

“One-size (fits-all) policing doesn’t fit all neighborhoods — Six Mile and Gratiot is definitely going to require a different form of policing than Sherwood Forest,” Perkins said. “You get that by creating a community council for each district.” 

Perkins said some remote workers are unfairly avoiding Detroit’s income tax, which is 2.4% for all residents and 1.2% for non-residents who work in the city. He argued that tax revenue is missing “from people who decided to work from home yet still owe an obligation” to the city and would find ways to better enforce the tax on non-residents.