The race to replace outgoing council president Mary Sheffield’s seat representing District 5 will feature UAW retiree Renata Miller and board of police commissioner Willie Burton.
Miller won the primary with more than 23% of the total votes, with Burton behind her at 19%. More than 13,000 votes were cast across District 5.
The primary race didn’t have clear frontrunners. Sheffield represented the district for more than a decade.
Miller, who took the most votes in the primary, was backed by the UAW and is a retiree of the Warren Truck Assembly Plant. She was active during her time in the UAW, she served as a CAP chairman.
She’s been all over the district courting voters, she told Michigan Chronicle.
“Detroiters need jobs and development in their neighborhood,” Miller said.
District 5 crosses both the east and west sides of the city. The district covers Belle Isle to Dexter-Linwood, spanning across West Village, Indian Village, downtown, Brush Park, Boston Edison, New Center and the North End. There’s new district boundaries as the result of a city charter mandated redistricting process last year.
Burton did take more votes at a number of precincts, like one at Moses Field School on Sheridan, between Agnes & Lafayette. He also won 18 more votes than Miller at the precinct at Marcus Garvey School, where he met voters outside for a few hours on Election Day.
Miller said she’s a supporter of continuing the city’s efforts to create more affordable housing. She says the strategy can’t be to just build affordable housing, but to build quality affordable housing.
Miller has been also been a vocal proponent of finding ways to help young entrepreneurs, as both of her daughters are small business owners. One of her daughters is Jazmin Re’Nae, a reality television star known for her role in the reality TV show, Baddies.
Candidates in the primary included Burton, Miller, HUD employee Esther Haugabook, Ardent Park president Tatjana Jackson, developer George Adams, Michael Hartt and legislative aid Michael Ri’chard.
Haugabook took the most votes at the precinct at Bethel AME Church on St. Antoine and E. Warren, finishing ahead of Burton and Miller by 16 votes.
Jackson won the most votes at precinct 136 at First Congregational Church on E. Forest Ave.
Haugabook received 17% of the vote, while Jackson, the was youngest candidate in the District 5 race, won 16% of the vote. In social media posts, Jackson pointed to lagging salaries and increasing rent as top issues.
Burton made it past the primary thanks to name ID having appeared on the ballot before, and targeting individuals within grassroots organizing circles. Burton opposes tax abatements for billionaires, and advocates for lowering water rates and increasing funding for transit.
“I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with working people, demanding accountability, transparency, and real investment in our communities,” Burton said. “Detroit deserves leadership that puts people over profit.”
Miller raised $13,660, spending more than $10,000 on her campaign. Burton raised $3,745, reporting $990 on expenditures for his campaign.
Miller’s donors included Ambassador Bridge owner Mathew Moroun, who gave $2,400.
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