Mary Sheffield outpaces Solomon Kinloch with fundraising lead in Detroit mayoral race

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield is leading the money race two months out from the November election that will determine the city’s next mayor, with a healthy fundraising lead over her opponent, Pastor Solomon Kinloch, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday, Sept. 4.

Sheffield nearly doubled the amount of donations flowing to her opponent in the latest campaign finance filing, raising $205,708, while Kinloch raised $115,964 between July 21 and Aug. 25. The two are vying for the city’s top job as Mayor Mike Duggan prepares to leave office to run for Michigan governor as an independent candidate.

Sheffield, who secured Duggan’s endorsement last month, also held a strong lead ahead of the August primary election, raising at least $300,000 more than Kinloch, with funds from corporate donors and labor unions. The city council president had the benefit of establishing her campaign committee nearly two years ahead of the election, allowing her to collect donations before the race for the primary began to ramp up among the then-nine candidates. However, that did not stop Kinloch from drawing thousands in a roaring crowd at the Fox Theatre when launching his candidacy.

Top donors and expenses

Sheffield received a whopping $20,000 from Citizens for Michigan, a state committee whose address is 3400 East Lafayette St. in Detroit, that traces to Soave Enterprises. She also received a few top-dollar donations of $8,325 from the Michigan Action Political Fund and CURE Auto Insurance CEO Eric Poe. Former Michigan lawmaker Samuel “Buzz” Thomas also dropped $7,325 into Sheffield’s campaign.

City employees also donated to Sheffield’s campaign, including: Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett; Palencia Mobley, deputy director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department; Bruce Goldman, of the law department; and Elizabeth Ayana Johnson, of the office of the chief financial officer.

Sheffield spent $210,736 during this reporting period, though she had $404,092 on hand from the previous reporting period. She spent about $54,002 on GPS Impact, a media consultant based in Des Moines, Iowa. Sheffield also spent $74,492 on wages for a campaign staffer with a San Francisco address, more than $6,000 on gas, and the majority of other expenses on administrative fees, printing materials, meals and campaign software.

Kinloch’s top contributor includes a big $83,250 donation from the United Auto Workers Voluntary Community Action Program political action committee. The UAW, in May, endorsed Kinloch, noting he has repeatedly stood in solidarity with the union. Some of his other top donors include, $6,000 from Way Program Superintendent Isaiah Pettway; $2,000 from Tonya Allen of the Minnesota-based McKnight Foundation; and $2,000 from Robert Bolden, pastor of Central Baptist Church.

Kinloch spent $135,286 this period, holding onto $55,976 from the previous period. He shelled out $40,000 for meeting expenses with Elevate Production Group, a Detroit-based event management company; $25,543 in consulting fees; thousands on printing materials with various vendors; and about $4,500 on limousine and transportation services, advertisements and administrative fees.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana