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

- 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.