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

Ethics & Conduct

City Council President, District 5 | City of Detroit

Mary Sheffield kicks off run to be Detroit's next mayor

Mary Sheffield is from Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree. She is also an ordained minister.

Before taking elected office, Mary worked as a hearing officer for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, sold fitness equipment, and did public affairs work for her father’s Detroit Association of Black Organizations. 

Mary is currently the council president of the Detroit City Council, representing District 5. She was first elected to the council in 2013 and reelected in 2017 and 2021. She previously ran for a Michigan State House seat in 2008 and 2010 but did not win.

Why Mary Sheffield wants to be Mayor of Detroit

Supports reducing property taxes for businesses and residents.

Opposed granting over $800 million in tax credits for Olympia Development's District Detroit project.

Opposed granting $800 million in tax credits for Olympia Development's District Detroit project.

Supports the legacy business grant program, which allows small businesses to apply for a grant between $15,000 to $50,000 to cover various expenses.

Supports Detroit's legacy business grant program, which allows small businesses to apply for a grant between $15,000 to $50,000.

Supports the creation of a reparations task force, an industry standards board for arena workers, a new legal defense program for low-income renters, income-based water rates, and some relief for overtaxed homeowners.

Supports the creation of a reparations task force.

Supports implementing a universal basic income program for low-income residents to promote upward economic mobility.

Proposes implementing a universal basic income program for low-income residents to promote upward economic mobility.

Supports creating a business development fund with philanthropic and private sector partnerships to increase access to capital for businesses.

Supports efforts to increase wages and promote upward economic mobility for Detroit residents.

- Supports reducing property taxes for businesses and residents.
- Opposed granting $800 million in tax credits for Olympia Development's District Detroit project.
- Supports Detroit's legacy business grant program, which allows small businesses to apply for a grant between $15,000 to $50,000.
- Supports the creation of a reparations task force.
- Proposes implementing a universal basic income program for low-income residents to promote upward economic mobility.
- Supports creating a business development fund with philanthropic and private sector partnerships to increase access to capital for businesses.
- Supports efforts to increase wages.

Economy

Supports attracting new residents to repopulate Detroit and redevelop aging real estate while protecting long-time residents from gentrification and displacement.

Supports attracting new residents to Detroit and redeveloping old houses while protecting residents from gentrification and displacement.

As a city council member, supported establishing a fund to preserve or create affordable housing for lower-income Detroiters and supported an ordinance requiring landlords to disclose when they are opting out of Section 8 housing.

As a city council member, supported funding to preserve or create affordable housing for lower-income Detroiters and requiring landlords to notify when they opt out of Section 8 housing.

Supports reducing overall property taxes and building upon the land value tax work started by the mayor.

Supports creating a pathway to home ownership and investing in infill housing.

Supports helping residents with home ownership and investing in more housing on underdeveloped city land.

As a city council member, supported a new legal defense program for low-income renters and income-based water rates.

- Supports attracting new residents to Detroit and redeveloping old houses while protecting residents from gentrification and displacement.
- As a city council member, supported funding to preserve or create affordable housing for lower-income Detroiters and requiring landlords to notify when they opt out of Section 8 housing.
- Supports reducing property taxes.
- Supports helping residents with home ownership and investing in more housing on underdeveloped city land.
- As a city council member, supported a new legal defense program for low-income renters and income-based water rates.

Housing & Urban Development

Plans to invest in safe communities, which includes the police department and community violence intervention.

Plans to invest in the police department and community violence reduction programs.

- Plans to invest in the police department and community violence reduction programs.

Public Safety

Healthcare

Public Services

As a city council member, helped clean up alleys, address problems with sinkholes and direct grants for energy efficiency upgrades.

As a city council member, helped clean up alleys, address problems with sinkholes, and pay for energy efficiency upgrades.

- As a city council member, helped clean up alleys, address problems with sinkholes, and pay for energy efficiency upgrades.

Energy & the Environment

Aims to focus on creating "walkable and vibrant neighborhoods."

Supports expanding the QLine to 8 Mile and improving regional transit connections.

Supports investing in public transit and creating regional connections.

- Aims to focus on creating "walkable and vibrant neighborhoods."
- Supports expanding the QLine to 8 Mile and improving regional transit connections.
- Supports investing in public transit and creating regional connections.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to explore ways to inspire youth to participate in the civic engagement process to retain young talent in the city.

Wants to inspire youth to be civically engaged to help keep young talent in the city.

Supports creating a task force to address literacy and youth after-school programming and tutoring.

Supports investing in programs like "earn to learn" and "skills for life" to train Detroit residents.

- Wants to inspire youth to be civically engaged to help keep young talent in the city.
- Supports creating a task force to address literacy and youth after-school programming and tutoring.
- Supports investing in programs like "earn to learn" and "skills for life" to train Detroit residents.

Education

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Mary Sheffield

Walter Ley

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

Why Solomon Kinloch is running for Detroit mayor in 2025

Detroit mayor's race sit-down: Solomon Kinloch - Axios Detroit

Rev. Solomon Kinloch announces candidacy for Mayor of Detroit

Solomon Kinloch Jr. is from Detroit, Michigan. He is married to Robin Kinloch. They have a son together named Kadin. He attends and preaches at Triumph Church.

Solomon is a pastor and preacher. He works at Triumph, where he has been the lead pastor for 27 years.

Solomon's campaign for Detroit mayor is his first entry into politics. 

Wants to add 10 more grocery stores in the city to increase access in food deserts.

Plans to open 10 new grocery stores in food deserts so families have better access to healthy food.

Wants to expand existing workforce training programs.

Plans to create the Department of Opportunity and Empowerment to streamline financial assistance programs and increase enrollment in public benefits like food and health care.

Plans to create a Department of Opportunity and Empowerment to help families sign up for food, health care, and financial aid.

Plans to launch the Detroit Children’s Trust Fund, which will provide a financial incentive for children to pursue education or start businesses in Detroit.

Plans to start the Detroit Children’s Trust Fund to help kids pay for college or start a business when they grow up.

Plans to launch the “Hire Local” initiative, providing tax incentives to employers who hire Detroit residents in livable wage jobs and giving preference to businesses with Detroit employees in the procurement process.

Supports a “Hire Local” initiative that rewards companies that hire Detroit residents for good-paying jobs.

Supports partnering with employers and workforce training organizations to develop the "Detroit Jobs for Our Future" strategy, which aims to identify skills needed for livable wage jobs and create training pathways through schools and higher education.

Wants to partner with schools and employers on a “Detroit Jobs for Our Future” strategy that prepares students for careers.

Plans to launch the “Streamline Detroit” initiative to improve business licensing, inspection, and permitting processes.

Plans to make it easier to start and run a business by improving licensing and permits.

Plans to expand access to affordable capital and business development assistance for Detroit’s small and micro businesses by establishing the “Incubate Detroit” fund, which will provide grants and low-interest loans.

Wants to support small businesses with grants and low-interest loans.

- Plans to open 10 new grocery stores in food deserts so families have better access to healthy food.
- Wants to expand existing workforce training programs.
- Plans to create a Department of Opportunity and Empowerment to help families sign up for food, health care, and financial aid.
- Plans to start the Detroit Children’s Trust Fund to help kids pay for college or start a business when they grow up.
- Supports a “Hire Local” initiative that rewards companies that hire Detroit residents for good-paying jobs.
- Wants to partner with schools and employers on a “Detroit Jobs for Our Future” strategy that prepares students for careers.
- Plans to make it easier to start and run a business by improving licensing and permits.
- Wants to support small businesses with grants and low-interest loans.

Plans to build 10,000 affordable housing units through down payment assistance programs.

Plans to expand rental assistance and create new housing vouchers for vulnerable residents, aiming to address immediate housing crises and ensure equitable distribution of affordable housing in Detroit.

Wants to expand rental assistance and provide more housing vouchers for people in crisis.

Plans to reduce property taxes and expand tax exemption and deferment programs to protect seniors, low-income homeowners, and long-term Detroit residents from tax foreclosure.

Plans to lower property taxes and expand exemptions to protect seniors, long-time residents, and low-income families.

Supports offering home repair grants and low-interest loans to help residents maintain aging homes.

Supports giving grants and loans for home repairs so people can fix up older houses.

Plans to fund homeownership by launching a down payment assistance and low-interest loan program to help working families purchase their first home.

Wants to help families buy their first home with low-interest loans and down payment aid.

Supports eliminating outdated regulations that unnecessarily slow or increase the cost of developing housing in Detroit.

Supports removing old rules that slow down or raise the cost of building new homes.

- Plans to build 10,000 affordable homes.
- Wants to expand rental assistance and provide more housing vouchers for people in crisis.
- Plans to lower property taxes and expand exemptions to protect seniors, long-time residents, and low-income families.
- Supports giving grants and loans for home repairs so people can fix up older houses.
- Wants to help families buy their first home with low-interest loans and down payment aid.
- Supports removing old rules that slow down or raise the cost of building new homes.

Believes the "true root of crime often lies in poverty" and plans to address crime by also addressing poverty.

Believes poverty is often the root of crime and wants to reduce crime by addressing poverty.

Supports investing in youth violence prevention programs, such as mentoring, apprenticeship, leadership, safe gun storage, social-emotional learning, mental health, social services, and after-school job programs.

Supports youth violence prevention programs like mentoring, job training, mental health services, and safe gun storage.

Supports expanding community-based violence intervention strategies to reduce crime.

Wants to expand community-based violence prevention strategies.

Supports creating homicide review commissions to improve partnerships between law enforcement and community partners in identifying intervention opportunities with violent offenders.

Supports homicide review commissions to improve how police and communities work together.

Plans to launch the “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design” (CPTED) strategy to reduce serious property crimes.

Plans to use Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to cut down on property crimes.

Supports expanding access to re-entry and rehabilitation programs to prevent recidivism.

Supports more access to re-entry and rehab programs for people leaving prison.

Supports police officers and plans to improve access to mental health services, peer support groups, competitive wages, and innovative training for them.

Wants to support police officers with better pay, training, mental health services, and peer support.

- Believes poverty is often the root of crime and wants to reduce crime by addressing poverty.
- Supports youth violence prevention programs like mentoring, job training, mental health services, and safe gun storage.
- Wants to expand community-based violence prevention strategies.
- Supports homicide review commissions to improve how police and communities work together.
- Plans to use Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to cut down on property crimes.
- Supports more access to re-entry and rehab programs for people leaving prison.
- Wants to support police officers with better pay, training, mental health services, and peer support.

Supports funding "food as medicine" initiatives to combat food insecurity and improve health outcomes in Detroit by collaborating with various organizations to implement strategies like affordable grocery stores, medically-tailored meals, and community gardens, ultimately aiming to reduce healthcare costs.

Supports “food as medicine” programs that provide healthy meals, grocery stores, and community gardens to improve health and lower medical costs.

- Supports “food as medicine” programs that provide healthy meals, grocery stores, and community gardens to improve health and lower medical costs.

Believes investing in maintaining parks, recreation centers, and libraries can boost surrounding property values by up to 10%.

Believes investing in parks, libraries, and recreation centers can raise nearby property values and improve neighborhoods.

- Believes investing in parks, libraries, and recreation centers can raise nearby property values and improve neighborhoods.

Promises to ensure streetlights are on, trash is picked up, and emergency responders are ready to answer calls.

Promises to keep streetlights on, trash picked up, and emergency response strong.

Plans to build a "Wifi City" to provide affordable high-speed internet to all Detroit residents and school children.

Wants to build a “Wifi City” so all Detroiters have affordable internet.

Plans to address flooding by partnering with various authorities on capital improvement projects to reduce water main breaks, street flooding, and sewer system failures.

Plans to fix flooding problems by investing in water and sewer systems.

Plans to improve pedestrian safety by identifying accident hotspots and enhancing walking infrastructure with sidewalk improvements, speed bumps, and more crosswalks.

Plans to improve pedestrian safety with better sidewalks, crosswalks, and speed bumps.

Plans to improve bus service reliability and connectivity by paying drivers and mechanics competitive wages and investing in bus fleets.

Supports stronger public transit: better bus service, rapid bus routes on main roads, and fair pay for drivers and mechanics.

Supports creating rapid bus transit along major corridors like Woodward, Gratiot, Grand River, and Michigan Ave.

Supports the auto industry's shift to mobility by investing in Detroit's EV charging and smart infrastructure, and plans to collaborate with various leaders to train and attract future mobility talent.

Supports Detroit’s auto industry shift to electric vehicles (EVs) by adding charging stations and training workers for future mobility jobs.

- Promises to keep streetlights on, trash picked up, and emergency response strong.
- Wants to build a “Wifi City” so all Detroiters have affordable internet.
- Plans to fix flooding problems by investing in water and sewer systems.
- Plans to improve pedestrian safety with better sidewalks, crosswalks, and speed bumps.
- Supports stronger public transit: better bus service, rapid bus routes on main roads, and fair pay for drivers and mechanics.
- Supports creating rapid bus transit along major corridors like Woodward, Gratiot, Grand River, and Michigan Ave.
- Supports Detroit’s auto industry shift to electric vehicles (EVs) by adding charging stations and training workers for future mobility jobs.

Believes his administration could better leverage private-public resources and convene philanthropic leaders in the education sector.

Wants to work with nonprofits and businesses to improve education.

Plans to address social barriers to education by partnering with Detroit’s school community and establishing a senior cabinet-level position to coordinate city services supporting student success.

Plans to reduce barriers for students by creating a senior city official to connect schools with city services.

Plans to increase GED and high school completion rates by partnering with local schools and workforce agencies to offer stipends for residents over 25 to complete their education.

Wants to increase GED and high school graduation rates by offering stipends for adults over 25 who finish their education.

Plans to invest in skilled trades training by partnering with high schools, community colleges, workforce training organizations, and skilled trades unions to ensure financial accessibility for residents.

Supports skilled trades training through partnerships with schools, colleges, and unions.

Plans to help Detroit residents attain post-secondary training opportunities at no cost by providing direct assistance with FAFSA completion and verification.

Plans to help Detroiters attend college or job training programs at no cost by assisting with FAFSA and financial aid.

- Wants to work with nonprofits and businesses to improve education.
- Plans to reduce barriers for students by creating a senior city official to connect schools with city services.
- Wants to increase GED and high school graduation rates by offering stipends for adults over 25 who finish their education.
- Supports skilled trades training through partnerships with schools, colleges, and unions.
- Plans to help Detroiters attend college or job training programs at no cost by assisting with FAFSA and financial aid.

Solomon Kinloch

Solomon Kinloch Jr. is from Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in the city before living in Oakland Township for a decade and returning last year. He and his wife, Robin Kinloch, live in Detroit with their son, Kadin. He attends and preaches at Triumph Church.

- Supports funding for small businesses.
- Wants to add 10 more grocery stores in the city to increase access in food deserts.
- Wants to expand existing workforce training programs.
- Plans to create a Department of Opportunity and Empowerment to streamline financial assistance programs and increase enrollment in public benefits like food and health care.
- Plans to launch the Detroit Children’s Trust Fund, which will provide a financial incentive for children to pursue education or start businesses in Detroit.
- Plans to launch the “Hire Local” initiative, providing tax incentives to employers who hire Detroit residents in livable wage jobs and giving preference to businesses with Detroit employees in the procurement process.
- Supports partnering with employers and workforce training organizations to develop the "Detroit Jobs for Our Future" strategy, which aims to identify skills needed for livable wage jobs and create training pathways through schools and higher education.
- Plans to launch the “Streamline Detroit” initiative to improve business licensing, inspection, and permitting processes.
- Plans to expand access to affordable capital and business development assistance for Detroit’s small and micro businesses by establishing the “Incubate Detroit” fund, which will provide grants and low-interest loans.

- Plans to build 10,000 affordable housing units through down payment assistance programs.
- Plans to expand rental assistance and create new housing vouchers for vulnerable residents, aiming to address immediate housing crises and ensure equitable distribution of affordable housing in Detroit.
- Plans to reduce property taxes and expand tax exemption and deferment programs to protect seniors, low-income homeowners, and long-term Detroit residents from tax foreclosure.
- Supports offering home repair grants and low-interest loans to help residents maintain aging homes.
- Plans to fund homeownership by launching a down payment assistance and low-interest loan program to help working families purchase their first home.
- Supports eliminating outdated regulations that unnecessarily slow or increase the cost of developing housing in Detroit.

- Believes the "true root of crime often lies in poverty" and plans to address crime by also addressing poverty.
- Supports investing in youth violence prevention programs, such as mentoring, apprenticeship, leadership, safe gun storage, social-emotional learning, mental health, social services, and after-school job programs.
- Supports expanding community-based violence intervention strategies to reduce crime.
- Supports creating homicide review commissions to improve partnerships between law enforcement and community partners in identifying intervention opportunities with violent offenders.
- Plans to launch the “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design” (CPTED) strategy to reduce serious property crimes.
- Supports expanding access to re-entry and rehabilitation programs to prevent recidivism.
- Supports police officers and plans to improve access to mental health services, peer support groups, competitive wages, and innovative training for them.

- Supports funding "food as medicine" initiatives to combat food insecurity and improve health outcomes in Detroit by collaborating with various organizations to implement strategies like affordable grocery stores, medically-tailored meals, and community gardens, ultimately aiming to reduce healthcare costs.

- Believes investing in maintaining parks, recreation centers, and libraries can boost surrounding property values by up to 10%.

- Promises to ensure streetlights are on, trash is picked up, and emergency responders are ready to answer calls.
- Plans to build a "Wifi City" to provide affordable high-speed internet to all Detroit residents and school children.
- Plans to address flooding by partnering with various authorities on capital improvement projects to reduce water main breaks, street flooding, and sewer system failures.
- Plans to improve pedestrian safety by identifying accident hotspots and enhancing walking infrastructure with sidewalk improvements, speed bumps, and more crosswalks.
- Plans to improve bus service reliability and connectivity by paying drivers and mechanics competitive wages and investing in bus fleets.
- Supports creating rapid bus transit along major corridors like Woodward, Gratiot, Grand River, and Michigan Ave.
- Supports the auto industry's shift to mobility by investing in Detroit's EV charging and smart infrastructure, and plans to collaborate with various leaders to train and attract future mobility talent.

- Encourages the use of private-public resources and non-profit leaders in the education sector.
- Plans to address social barriers to education by partnering with Detroit’s school community and establishing a senior cabinet-level position to coordinate city services supporting student success.
- Plans to increase GED and high school completion rates by partnering with local schools and workforce agencies to offer stipends for residents over 25 to complete their education.
- Plans to invest in skilled trades training by partnering with high schools, community colleges, workforce training organizations, and skilled trades unions to ensure financial accessibility for residents.
- Plans to help Detroit residents attain post-secondary training opportunities at no cost by providing direct assistance with FAFSA completion and verification.

Solomon Kinloch Jr. is from Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in the city before living in Oakland Township for a decade and returning last year. He and his wife, Robin Kinloch, live in Detroit with their son, Kadin Kinloch. He attends and preaches at Triumph Church.

Solomon is a pastor and preacher. He works at Triumph, where he has been the leader and lead pastor for 27 years.

- Supports funding for small businesses.
- Wants to add 10 more grocery stores in the city to increase access in food deserts.
- Wants to expand existing workforce training programs.

- Plans to build 10,000 affordable housing units through down payment assistance programs.

- Believes the "true root of crime often lies in poverty" and plans to address crime by also addressing poverty.

- Promises to ensure streetlights are on, trash is picked up, and emergency responders are ready to answer calls.

- Encourages the use of private-public resources and non-profit leaders in the education sector.

- A mayor’s job can be different in each city, but they usually make sure city laws are followed, help create and manage the city’s budget, appoint people to boards and committees, and oversee city services like police, fire departments, parks, and public transportation.
- The mayor works with the city council and sometimes helps make decisions by voting.
- They may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. 
- They are elected to a two- or four-year term, depending on the city.