Kinloch to blanket Detroit with campaign ads 

Detroit mayoral hopeful and Triumph Church Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr is preparing an “intense” mail and television advertising strategy and mobilizing followers to knock on doors across the city. He said no other candidate can match his campaign organization and fundraising prowess. 

“We are confident there is no one in this race that will be able to outpace us in raising resources,” Kinloch said. 

He estimated that Triumph Church has made contact with 100,000 Detroit families in his nearly three decades of serving as senior pastor. Kinloch said he has unique experience in managing large organizations. 

“You need more than someone who can say ‘I am a leader,’” Kinloch said. “You need someone who’s a builder, someone who has a track record. I have a 27-year track record of building something mammoth.” 

I would push back on that notion from anyone that would say that they are a leader just because they sat at the table, they’ve been given an agenda and they had to vote yes or no at the end of the day.” 

Kinloch spoke to BridgeDetroit during the Mackinac Policy Conference last week, where he appeared in a debate alongside four other mayoral candidates. Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, City Council Member Fred Durhal III, former nonprofit CEO and Council President Saunteel Jenkins and current Council President Mary Sheffield were all invited to debate. Four other candidates and a write-in were not invited to participate.

Kinloch also said his lack of political experience is an asset, because he doesn’t have bad habits. 

“This is the first time that the residents in the city of Detroit will be voting 45 days before the primary, and so I’ve been reminding myself and being cognizant of it,” Kinloch said. “Not being an institutional politician is advantageous, because we don’t come into the race approaching it the same way.” 

Kinloch wants to show business leaders that he would bring continuity with the Duggan administration but also make Detroit’s economic growth more inclusive.

“We’ve done much, but there’s a section of the community and I could go as far to say you have a silent majority that’s not engaging in this electoral process,” Kinloch said. “There’s some good things and some great things that are happening in the city of Detroit. We just have to work better at making sure it’s not just in one part of the town.”