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 June 3, 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

Supports large corporations as well as local businesses.

James Harris is from Detroit, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and will receive a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on leadership on May 3, 2025. He is also a graduate of the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute in Georgia and the Eastern Michigan University Staff and Command Executive Fire Management program. He lives with his two daughters in a Detroit neighborhood.

James is the Chief of the Community Relations Division at the Detroit Fire Department, where he has worked for 27 years. He leads efforts to train every 8th grader in Detroit on hands-only CPR, hosts car seat safety checks, and guides residential fire safety and escape planning. Harris and his team organize Fire Prevention Week events and citywide “Halloween in the D” activities. His division also oversees the Detroit Smoke Alarm Program, aiming to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in about 1,500 homes across the city. He worked his way through the department’s ranks and was appointed Chief of Community Relations in July 2021. Harris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and will receive his MBA in Leadership on May 3, 2025.

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

As of June 3, 2025, James Harris 1’s website did not contain information on this issue.

James Harris 1

James is from Detroit, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and will receive his master’s degree in business administration in leadership on May 3, 2025. He is also a graduate of the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute in Georgia and the Eastern Michigan University Staff and Command Executive Fire Management program. James has served for nearly three decades and is known as “The People’s Chief” for his deep-rooted connection to Detroit neighborhoods. He and his two daughters live in Detroit, and he is grounded in faith and active in his church community.

James is the Chief of the Community Relations Division at the Detroit Fire Department, where he has worked for 27 years. In his current role, he leads a team of three staff who organize community engagement and public education throughout Detroit. He directs training for every 8th grader in Hands-only CPR, hosts car seat safety checks, and develops residential fire safety and escape plans. He also coordinates Detroit’s Fire Prevention Week events, oversees the citywide Halloween in the D activities, and manages the Detroit Smoke Alarm Program, which aims to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in about 1,500 homes. He was appointed to his current post in July 2021 after rising through the department’s ranks.

Plans to focus on creating partnerships that prioritize local hiring and equitable development.

Supports improving emergency services, cleaning up blight, supporting large corporations as well as local businesses, increasing transparency in city government, and expanding affordable housing across Detroit.

Plans to expand youth programs and create safe spaces for children.

James Harris is from Detroit, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and will receive his master’s degree in leadership through a Master of Business Administration program on May 3, 2025. He is also a graduate of the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute in Georgia and the Eastern Michigan University Staff and Command Executive Fire Management program. He lives with his two daughters in Detroit. A man grounded in faith and fueled by community, Harris brings nearly three decades of public service experience, and he is known throughout the city as “The People’s Chief.”

James Harris is Chief of the Community Relations Division at the Detroit Fire Department, where he has worked for 27 years. He manages a team of three firefighters who lead community engagement and public education across Detroit neighborhoods. His team trains every 8th grader in the city on Hands-only CPR, hosts car seat safety checks, and teaches residents how to create residential fire safety and escape plans. The division also oversees the Detroit Smoke Alarm Program (DSAP), which aims to install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in approximately 1,500 homes throughout the city. Harris began his career in the department and worked his way through the ranks before being appointed Chief of Community Relations in July 2021. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and will receive his MBA in Leadership on May 3, 2025. He is also a graduate of the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute in Georgia and the Eastern Michigan University Staff and Command Executive Fire Management program.

Said, "Public safety is HUGE to me. I want Detroiters to have confidence that when they call, first responders will show up fast. Period."

- 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.