Op-Ed: Detroit needs new people-focused policy. That starts with good personnel.

The next mayor will take the reins of the city at a critical time. Detroit is experiencing a resurgence, but there is no question that there are issues to still tackle. Development has been uneven, schools and crime are still issues in need of solutions and our status as one of the last majority Black cities in the country is particularly vulnerable to a rapidly changing federal landscape.

Solving all of these issues is impossible for just one person. That is why mayors rely on robust staff and city employees to carry out their vision. As voters soon head to the polls to assess who should hold the role as the city’s chief executive, we also need to keep eyes on how those candidates plan to govern. What policies will they enact to move the city in the right direction?

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Those policies are dependent on employees, and that is what leads us to focus on what staff is appointed around candidates. As the old adage goes “personnel is policy.” The people who are appointed around the mayor shouldn’t be ignored as inconsequential. They are instead the ones who carry out some of the most important jobs in the city. And we need to ensure that the folks appointed to those roles are themselves ready to lead on day one.

Many of the city’s roles have historically been invisible to the average Detroit resident. Not many people could tell you the name of the city assessor, the chief financial officer, or the director of the department of transportation (Charles Ericson, Tanya Stoudemire and Robert Cramer, respectively). But nearly everyone in the city has interacted with their work. How your house is assessed and taxed, what investments your neighborhood receives and how public transit operates are some of the main questions on the mind of Detroiters.

Well, we’re no longer ignoring these positions. They’re as crucial as can be and who fills them is just as important to voters as who sits in the mayor’s office. If we want a city that represents us and our interests, we need a City Hall that does the same.

We’re a part of a new initiative aimed at finding qualified, competent and aligned Detroiters willing to serve their city in a variety of positions. These roles range from things like assessor to transit to public health to budget. We think that this city is home to some of the smartest and most passionate people in the world and they could and should serve in city government.

The Duggan administration made several appointments of individuals from outside of the city. Detroit has had its share of outsiders coming in and telling us how to do things with little context of how this city works. We believe all the talent we need is right here. Our region is home to incredible organizations, top academic institutions and world-class businesses. In all of these institutions there sit dedicated Detroiters eager for opportunities to serve their city – ready to start on day one.

As we move towards primary day, like most Detroiters, we’ll be listening closely to what the candidates say on their vision for the future of this city. Those visions are more important now than ever, but will in the end be empty if not implemented by a strong staff ready to advance the city. We invite all candidates to talk about who they plan on appointing to city government and to reach out to us directly to access our database of Detroiters who are ready and willing to serve on day one. This issue is not candidate specific – we all need to be invested in the success of the next mayor.

That investment starts now.

Maurice Weeks is the director of the Detroit City Appointments Project a collaborative effort to scout, vet and
recommend effective and diverse candidates for service into Detroit city government who are committed to the public good. The project works with organizations from around the city, state and country, to cultivate a robust list of candidates for over 100 mayor-appointed or mayor-nominated positions. Additionally, DCAP works to inform agendas for key agencies, leveraging the power of organized people throughout the city.