Detroit Fire Chief James Harris Announces Run for City Council - The Metro Detroit News

James Harris is from Detroit, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and a master’s degree in business administration. James lives with his two daughters in a Detroit neighborhood.

Meet the Chiefs of the Detroit Fire Department | City of Detroit

James is the Chief of the Community Relations Division at the Detroit Fire Department, where he has worked for 27 years. 

James's campaign for Detroit City Council At-Large is his first entry into politics.

Supports large corporations and local businesses.

Plans to address Detroit's wealth gap through income-based housing, financial literacy education, and pathways to homeownership.

Supports providing funding, mentorship, and opportunities for Detroit entrepreneurs, especially minority-owned businesses.

- Supports large corporations and local businesses.
- Plans to address Detroit's wealth gap through income-based housing, financial literacy education, and pathways to homeownership.
- Supports providing funding, mentorship, and opportunities for Detroit entrepreneurs, especially minority-owned businesses.

Economy

Supports expanding affordable housing across Detroit.

- Supports expanding affordable housing across Detroit.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports strengthening public safety by expanding community policing, improving emergency services, and providing better tools and resources for first responders.

- Supports strengthening public safety by expanding community policing, improving emergency services, and providing better tools and resources for first responders.

Public Safety

Supports expanded access to mental and physical health services.

- Supports expanded access to mental and physical health services.

Healthcare

THE PEOPLE’S CHIEF: FIRE CHIEF JAMES HARRIS ANNOUNCES RUN FOR DETROIT CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE - The Beautiful Machine Magazine

Plans to prioritize youth by expanding programs and creating safe spaces for children.

Supports safe, affordable housing, healthcare access, and elder protection programs for seniors.

- Plans to prioritize youth by expanding programs and creating safe spaces for children.
- Supports safe, affordable housing, healthcare access, and elder protection programs for seniors.

Public Services

As of August 12, 2025, James Harris’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Supports revitalizing neighborhoods through affordable housing, smart development, and infrastructure improvements.

- Supports revitalizing neighborhoods through affordable housing, smart development, and infrastructure improvements.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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James Harris

Buket Urgen

Coleman Young II - Wikipedia

High-profile contenders battle for Detroit's two at-large council seats

Coleman Young II - Ballotpedia

Coleman Young II was raised in California. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wayne State University, lives in Detroit’s English Village neighborhood, and is a member of St. Paul Church of God in Christ.

Before taking public office, Coleman was an intern for the Detroit City Council and for Subway restaurants. Additionally, he hosted a talk show called The Young Effect in 2005.

Coleman is currently an at-large member of the Detroit City Council in Michigan. He assumed office in 2022 and is serving his first term. He previously served as a state representative from 2007 to 2010 and as a state senator from 2011 to 2014. Coleman ran for Detroit mayor in 2009 and 2017 and for US representative in 2018 but did not win.

Plans to energize the small business community and inspire grassroots entrepreneurs to reduce the city's 27% unemployment rate and poverty.

Plans to "energize the small business community and inspire grassroots entrepreneurs" to reduce the city's 27% unemployment rate and poverty.

- Plans to "energize the small business community and inspire grassroots entrepreneurs" to reduce the city's 27% unemployment rate and poverty.

Believes neighborhoods are deteriorating while "billions of dollars" are invested downtown and in select areas.

- Believes neighborhoods are deteriorating while "billions of dollars" are invested downtown and in select areas.

Believes that reducing crime is linked to increasing employment opportunities.

- Believes that reducing crime is linked to increasing employment opportunities.

As of August 12, 2025, Coleman Young II’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to work with developers to reduce flooding and power outages.

- Plans to work with developers to reduce flooding and power outages.

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Coleman Young II

Janeé Ayers - Wikipedia

Janeé Ayers is from Detroit, Michigan. She attended Bowling Green State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and public policy. 

Before joining the council, Janeé worked for the Detroit Recreation Department, where she managed and organized community sports and recreation programs. She previously taught science at Millennium High School for Detroit Public Schools until the school closed in 2007. After teaching, Janeé joined MGM Grand Detroit and became active in the hotel workers’ union UNITE HERE! Local 24. A few years later, she was elected vice president of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. 

Janee Ayers - Ballotpedia

Janeé was previously an at-large member of the Detroit City Council from 2017 to 2022. She ran for re-election in 2021 but did not win.

Case closed, Ayers returns with City Council challenge - Axios Detroit

Supports ensuring economic opportunities are accessible to Detroit residents and businesses by investing in infrastructure and bringing in new industries.

Wants to make city processes easier for small businesses.

- Supports ensuring economic opportunities are accessible to Detroit residents and businesses by investing in infrastructure and bringing in new industries.
- Wants to make city processes easier for small businesses.

As a city council member, sponsored an ordinance requiring most rental housing in the city to follow a ban-the-box policy for former inmates.

As a city council member, sponsored an ordinance requiring most rental housing in the city to eliminate questions on criminal history.

Plans to address affordable housing in Detroit.

- As a city council member, sponsored an ordinance requiring most rental housing in the city to eliminate questions on criminal history.
- Plans to address affordable housing in Detroit.

Supports reducing recidivism and helping former inmates reintegrate into society to improve public safety.

Supports reducing recidivism and helping former inmates adjust to society to improve public safety.

- Supports reducing recidivism and helping former inmates adjust to society to improve public safety.

As of August 12, 2025, Janeé Ayers did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to build sustainable neighborhoods with access to shopping, amenities, services, and good schools.

- Wants to build sustainable neighborhoods with access to shopping, amenities, services, and good schools.

Believes the lack of regional transit limits access to opportunities for Detroit residents.

- Believes the lack of regional transit limits access to opportunities for Detroit residents.

Janeé Ayers

City Council At Large | City of Detroit

Mary Waters is originally from Alabama. She has an accounting certification from the Detroit Business Institute and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.

Mary previously worked as an instructor for the Wayne County Community College District, as an ombudsman for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, and in corporate communications for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. 

Mary D. Waters - Wikipedia

Detroit City Council member starts congressional bid with 'world ...

Mary is currently an at-large member of the Detroit City Council. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. She previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. She ran for state senator in 2010 and for US representative in 2012 and 2024, but did not win. She was also disqualified from a 2018 special congressional election.

As a city council member, chairs the Skilled Trades Task Force to promote job opportunities for city residents.

Wants to "ensure city residents have job opportunities."

As a city council member, established the Jumpstart Program to help Detroiters get an education and jobs.

- Wants to "ensure city residents have job opportunities."
- As a city council member, established the Jumpstart Program to help Detroiters get an education and jobs.

Wants to address income-based housing by establishing a local Area Median Income (AMI) to determine housing affordability.

Wants to address income-based housing by creating a local measure to determine housing affordability.

Wants land bank homes to go to "Detroiters in need, including individuals who are experiencing homelessness."

As a city councilor, helped create a downpayment assistance program and an independent call center for housing inquiries using funds from the American Rescue Plan.

As a city council member, helped establish the Ca’Maya Davis Family Resource Center to assist residents facing housing emergencies.

As a city council member, created the Tenant's Rights Commission to assist renters in Detroit.

- Wants to address income-based housing by creating a local measure to determine housing affordability.
- Wants land bank homes to go to "Detroiters in need, including individuals who are experiencing homelessness."
- As a city councilor, helped create a downpayment assistance program and an independent call center for housing inquiries using funds from the American Rescue Plan.
- As a city council member, helped establish the Ca’Maya Davis Family Resource Center to assist residents facing housing emergencies.
- As a city council member, created the Tenant's Rights Commission to assist renters in Detroit.

As of August 12, 2025, Mary Waters’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As a city council member, started the Property Tax Taskforce to help residents complete the Homeowners Property Tax Exemption Application (H.O.P.E.) and access resources to prevent tax foreclosure.

As a city council member, started the Property Tax Taskforce to help residents access resources to keep their homes.

Supports funding veterans affairs programs.

- As a city council member, started the Property Tax Taskforce to help residents access resources to keep their homes.
- Supports funding veterans affairs programs.

Mary Waters

- City council members in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Council members attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City council members may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.