  Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 712 Registered: 05-2008 |
http://www.freep.com/article/2 0081013/NEWS01/81013047 Optimistic Hood says outrage drives mayoral run By Zachary Gorchow • Free Press Staff Writer • October 13, 2008 Declaring himself outraged about the state of the City of Detroit, but optimistic about the city’s future, the Rev. Nicholas Hood III formally announced today he is running for mayor in next year’s special election. Hood, a former city councilman, called the lack of safety in Detroit deplorable and an affront to residents who wonder whether it’s safe to walk from their car to their front door and who deal with drug traffickers terrorizing citizens. He criticized city services as spotty across the board. “I tell you, it’s not fair, and we should demand and expect more,” he said in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue outside of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Hood filed his petition signatures earlier in the morning, one day before the deadline for candidates to file at least 583 valid signatures of registered Detroit voters to make the ballot. The Feb. 24 primary will winnow the field to two candidates who will advance to the May 5 general election. Hood, while not mentioning former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick by name, sharply criticized his conduct. He said he would not keep a large mayoral security detail, tolerate crime and graft in government and would return the Manoogian Mansion, the official mayoral residence, to public use as a place for the community. “I will not be an embarassment to the city,” Hood said to applause from the 40 supporters gathered behind him. Despite the city’s many problems, Hood said he believes the city can succeed. “My optimism is born out of the sense that in spite of what the city has been through the past several years we are still standing,” he said. “With a government operating on autopilot for the last several months and the fact that we have not imploded or exploded, I am convinced that surely God has something better in store for this city.” Hood, a councilman from 1994-2001, ran for mayor in 2001, but finished well out of the top two candidates in the primary and failed to make the general election. Hood said this campaign will be different because now he knows it doesn’t matter how good his message is if he doesn’t have the campaign money to get that message out. Several other candidates also have announced: businessman Dave Bing, Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., former Deputy Mayor Freman Hendrix, former Councilwoman and Kilpatrick general counsel Sharon McPhail and state Rep. Coleman Young II. Others who have pulled petitions, but not declared they are running include Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans, state Rep. Shanelle Jackson and state Sen. Buzz Thomas. | ||
Daddeeo Member Username: Daddeeo Post Number: 193 Registered: 09-2008 |
Funny, I didn't see him front and center months ago trying to get rid of Kwame. Talk about a fair weather candidate. He's another guy that thinks name recognition may squeak him into the top two for a run off. He never seemed to make a difference before so why should folks elect him now? | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1384 Registered: 11-2003 |
Well, Two Kilpatrick supporters, Horace Sheffield and Conrad Mallett are looking like they may back him. http://freep.com/article/20081 013/NEWS01/81013069 | ||
Lostlegumes Member Username: Lostlegumes Post Number: 68 Registered: 09-2007 |
So we're going from the thug--to the Hood? | ||
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap Post Number: 1113 Registered: 01-2005 |
I won't be behind anyone that the bottom-feeder Sheffield is behind. His approval means that the candidate can be bought. | ||
Daddeeo Member Username: Daddeeo Post Number: 197 Registered: 09-2008 |
He should change his first name to Horse's ass. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 723 Registered: 05-2008 |
Yep, we're outraged alright. Outraged this guy is even thinking of running. | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 1198 Registered: 11-2003 |
Lots of misinformation in this thread. Rev. Hood spoke up in early March of this year in a Free Press commentary (now archived) and criticized Mr. Kilpatrick's failure to take responsibility for the Mayoral Mess. Rev. Hood was the first prominent pastor to call for Mr. Kilpatrick's resignation. Anybody who thinks that Rev. Hood is some kind of Kilpatrick stooge or that he is a shill for the Kilpatrick Family and Friends crowd is clueless about Detroit politics. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 728 Registered: 05-2008 |
If Sheffield supports him... | ||
Downtown_lady Member Username: Downtown_lady Post Number: 350 Registered: 08-2008 |
Yes, if Nicholas Hood is on the level and above reproach, he needs to tell Sheffield thanks but no thanks -- Sheffield's association will hurt Hood. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 730 Registered: 05-2008 |
My thoughts exactly, Downtown. They don't have to accept support. | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 1199 Registered: 11-2003 |
I'm not as quick to judge Rev. Sheffield. He has a complex political history in Detroit. He can sometimes be too quick to play the victim card on certain issues, but quite often he can be an articulate spokesman for righteous positions. His support for Mr. Kilpatrick lasted too long, but only because he adhered to an excessively high standard of personal loyalty and friendship to the ex-Mayor to the exclusion of the public interest of the City as a whole. Rev. Sheffield was never an apologist for Mr. Kilpatrick. His support was based on friendship and forgiveness. Rev. Hood should not have to reject support from Rev. Sheffield. | ||
Downtown_lady Member Username: Downtown_lady Post Number: 352 Registered: 08-2008 |
What about Reverend Sheffield playing the race card? At a rally to support Kwame (maybe at Shrine of the Black Madonna), WXYZ reported that event organizers would not allow their reporter to enter but WXYZ was able to get an audio recording, though, including Reverend Sheffield sharing with the group something to the effect that it was white people or the white suburbs that were trying to bring Kwame down. Reverend Sheffield's support for the mayor may have been based on friendship and forgiveness, but what about the $250,000 city contract (to do something or other) that was given to Sheffield during Kwame's tenure? Maybe that had something to do with his loyalty as well. I think Rev. Hood needs to get as far away from that as possible. | ||
Daddeeo Member Username: Daddeeo Post Number: 199 Registered: 09-2008 |
Guilt by association. He won't finish in the top three. | ||
Ltorivia485 Member Username: Ltorivia485 Post Number: 3130 Registered: 08-2004 |
I would not support Hood as long as he has Conrad Mallet and Horace Sheffield by his side. They are Kilpatrick supporters, and we don't need any more of them in City Hall. |
