The first general election debate between Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield crackled with intensity, as the two candidates clashed over crime, housing, poverty, and the question that’s quietly defined this year’s mayoral race: who can truly deliver for all Detroiters.
Hosted at the WXYZ studio without any media, spectators, or Detroit residents in the room, the Oct. 15 debate gave voters their first opportunity to see the two square off head-to-head since advancing from the August primary. The format was tight — 90-second openings, one-minute responses, 30-second rebuttals, and 90-second closing remarks — and the exchanges were as sharp as the time limits allowed.
Kinloch, the longtime pastor of Triumph Church, opened with a striking critique of the city’s direction, pointing to Detroit’s persistent poverty rate, which remains the highest among major U.S. cities, its continued struggle with violent crime, and the rising costs of housing. Each issue, he said, was evidence of “failures of institutional policy” and of leadership too comfortable with incremental progress. He outlined what he called “The Kinloch Promise,” a pledge to expand pathways to quality education, homeownership, and economic opportunity. “Detroiters deserve two things,” he said. “They deserve safety, and they deserve justice.”
Sheffield, a veteran of city government who has represented District 5 for more than a decade, presented a contrasting tone rooted in experience and steady progress. “I have led with integrity, conviction, and action,” she said, pointing to her work directing more than $60 million in housing investment and hundreds of millions of dollars into programs that have directly led to quality-of-life improvements for residents citywide.
While she acknowledged that Detroit still faces significant challenges, she emphasized the momentum she believes the city has built. “We’ve made progress,” she said. “But this is a critical moment for Detroit. There’s still more to do.”
That contrast — between Sheffield’s argument for continuity and Kinloch’s call for reform — shaped nearly every exchange that followed. When asked how they would address violent crime, particularly among youth, Sheffield leaned into her philosophy of prevention and intervention. She called for “a comprehensive and holistic approach to public safety,” one that increases investment in community violence intervention programs and youth engagement initiatives. “We don’t need someone who calls out problems,” she said. “We’ve heard not one solution (from Kinloch). We need someone who will solve them.”
Kinloch, in turn, said Detroiters were tired of hearing promises without measurable change. “People in this city are looking for substance, for change,” he said. “Anything she wants to do as mayor, she could’ve done at city council — so why didn’t she?”
That question set the tone for much of the night. When the debate turned to the idea of bringing in National Guard troops to address crime — a question that has prompted visible tension from residents across the city — Sheffield was unequivocal. “I do not believe militarizing our neighborhoods is good for anyone,” she said. “That brings up very unfortunate memories of 1967. We will ensure they are not present in our communities.” Kinloch said he would never invite the National Guard “in a martial law fashion,” but added that he would welcome outside support “if it were offered collaboratively.”
The candidates also diverged sharply on how to extend Detroit’s economic recovery beyond downtown. “We have to give our neighborhoods the same chance we’ve given downtown,” Kinloch said. “Resources need to be accessible to everyone.” He argued that despite billions in investment, too many residents still struggle to find affordable homes or family-sustaining jobs.
Sheffield countered with examples of her own record, including her creation of a housing fund and expansion of home repair grants. “What we’re defining as affordable has to be affordable for everyone,” she said. “We’ve built up downtown, and now we’re investing in neighborhoods by action, not words.” But Kinloch pressed further, asking, “Affordable to who? The median income in Detroit is less than $40,000 a year. You’re telling me you’ve invested $1.5 billion in affordable housing?”
Education, a topic often considered outside the mayor’s formal jurisdiction, emerged as another point of contention. Kinloch said that while the Detroit Public Schools Community District operates independently, the city’s leadership still bears responsibility for the academic health of its young people. He promised to appoint a Chief Education Officer to coordinate the city’s role in supporting K-12 progress, and he proposed an ambitious plan to provide every child in Detroit with a seed investment fund — money they could access at age 18 for college, entrepreneurship, or homeownership.
Sheffield called for closer partnerships with schools to strengthen wraparound services, improve after-school programs, and support families. She framed her approach around the same principle she said guides her leadership: investing in people “from cradle to career.”
But it was the debate’s turn toward transparency and ethics that brought the most personal moments of the night — moments that laid bare the animosity that’s simmered between the two campaigns for months. When asked about restoring trust in city government, Kinloch invoked Detroit’s history with political corruption and promised to establish a Chief Compliance Officer to ensure city operations remain “above board.” He referenced reports alleging Sheffield received free concert tickets, saying, “We cannot go back to corruption in leadership.”
Sheffield swiftly rejected the claim as “wrong and inaccurate,” and accused Kinloch of hypocrisy. “I’ve led this city for 12 years,” she said. “Every step of the way, we’ve led with integrity.” She then turned the scrutiny back on him, referencing past reporting that his church had purchased his home and later sold it to him at a discounted rate.
“I didn’t have the city’s piggy bank,” Kinloch shot back, while accusing activist Robert Davis of running a “smear campaign” against him on Sheffield’s behalf. The back-and-forth grew tense. “He’s been virtually absent this entire campaign,” Sheffield said, saying Kinloch has chosen to skip key community meetings and mayoral discussions as a way to not be challenged publicly on his policy proposals. Kinloch bristled. “You’ve attacked me, my church, and my wife,” he said. “We could do great things together if you weren’t so adversarial.”
Their exchanges reached a boiling point as Kinloch accused Sheffield of operating from a place of privilege, saying, “The tenor and tone of this campaign shows why it’s dangerous to have people of privilege in power.” Sheffield fired back that Kinloch’s campaign had become more divisive than visionary. “You said you don’t have to tear down to build up,” she reminded him, pointing to a debate during the primary election in which both candidates participated. “I guess you don’t practice what you preach.”
Still, amid the tension, moments of policy substance emerged. Sheffield called housing a “human right” and said she would continue lowering property taxes while holding slumlords accountable. Kinloch emphasized Detroit’s staggering poverty rate — more than 34 percent overall, and more than half of its children — and said his administration would prioritize economic mobility for residents of all ages.
Both were asked what they would do on their first day in office. Kinloch said he’d begin by evaluating top leadership to ensure they were “ready to do something courageous,” then immediately engage Lansing to secure additional funding, then meet with residents to set priorities. Sheffield said that within her first 100 days, she’d focus on ensuring “effective and efficient leadership,” strengthening city services, and rebuilding trust in City Hall.
By the time closing statements arrived, the contrast was unmistakable. Sheffield’s tone was measured and forward-looking. “We’ve come a long way in the past 12 years, and it’s been an honor to serve you,” she said. “We’ve accomplished so much, but I believe our best days are ahead of us. Tonight we’ve heard misinformation, divisiveness, and no specifics — Detroit deserves better.”
Kinloch, standing firm in his critique of the status quo, ended where he began: with a focus on inequity. “Despite everything my opponent has said she’s done, the poverty rate is still over 50 percent,” he said. “We need to build a city that’s not just working for some. We need to build a city that’s working for everyone.”
The debate ended with both sides firmly standing their ground and neither side backing down to the other’s disingenuous remarks about their service to the city. But on thing became even more certain: Detroit voters are choosing between two starkly different visions of leadership. One candidate is rooted in continuity and cautious progress, while the other wants disruption and reform. As Election Day approaches, both Kinloch and Sheffield will have to convince residents not just that they care about Detroit’s future, but that they understand how to reach it.
