City Council President Carlton Clyburn one of the write-in mayoral candidates for Highland Park.
It’s difficult – if not impossible – to find another race for mayor in Michigan, perhaps the nation, where only one candidate is on the ballot for the November General Election. Yet, in the city of Highland Park, which didn’t have a Primary Election on Aug. 8, Councilwoman Glenda McDonald’s name will be the lone candidate for mayor that voters will see on the November ballot.
Nevertheless, at least three other candidates have mounted write-in campaigns to run against McDonald. According to the Highland Park City Clerk’s Office, City Council President Carlton Clyburn, Jerry Massey, and Maurice Turner have filed Declarations of Intent to run as write-in candidates. Individuals interested in running for mayor as write-ins have until Oct. 28 at 4:00 p.m. to file with the City Clerk’s office.
Whoever is victorious after the Nov. 8 General Election will face a litany of serious issues and problems in Highland Park – many that have been searching for solutions for decades. The list includes addressing a recent appeals court ruling ordering the city to pay a $21 million water bill, escalating concerns over the public safety of citizens and businesses, a growing need to intensify the fight against spreading blight, and the necessity to bring more tax dollars and other revenue into the city. All of the mayoral candidates believe they have the answers.
“I believe Highland Park can arise from the ashes and become a great city again, but the city and its people need someone who has the vision and passion to make it happen,” said McDonald. “And no one running for mayor has more passion for the city and its people than I do. I am the best candidate to bring our city back.”
McDonald, who has lived in Highland Park since 1971, said that the people want and deserve a clean and safe city where there are retail and other business developments.
“Without tax revenue, we can’t grow and develop our city,” said McDonald, who lost by 28 votes when she ran for mayor in 2019 against current Mayor Hubert Yopp, who is not running for re-election. “We need property tax dollars from houses in our city that people need to buy. But we must put people over politics to succeed. We need a plan of action for now and for the next generations to come. I have that plan to move Highland Park forward.”
Several attempts were made to reach write-in candidate Jerry Massey, but they were unsuccessful.
However, Clyburn sees himself as the next mayor who can best bring needed resources and revenue to the city to empower citizens.
“I’m the most qualified with the most experience,” said Clyburn. “I have been working for the city for over 10 years. I’m the sitting Council President, and I’m very familiar with how best to help our citizens and businesses prosper.”
Clyburn is a fourth-generation Highland Parker but said this is his first time running for mayor.
“It was important for me to first understand the legislative process before running,” he said. “You can’t really run anything unless you know how it moves, operates, and know the rules of engagement. Being the Council President has given me a lot of insight into how our city operates and what must be done to make it run better for all citizens and businesses.”
When asked about his campaign for mayor as a write-in versus his name appearing on the ballot with McDonald, Clyburn said a lawsuit was filed earlier in the year, which sought to keep him off the ballot because he allegedly violated his Affidavit of Identity (AOI) by not filling in his party affiliation as non-partisan. He left the space blank. The trial court concluded that Clyburn’s AOI was not in violation of the governing stature, and he could stay on the ballot. However, an appeal to that ruling was successful and ordered that Clyburn’s name be left off the November ballot.
The ruling had a ripple effect that has engulfed approximately nine other candidates running for various offices in Highland Park, many of which answered the AOI party affiliation in the same manner as Clyburn by leaving it blank. Subsequently, multiple candidates for mayor, city council, and city clerk filed Declarations of Intent to run as write-ins in the upcoming General Election.
Write-in candidate Maurice Turner, whose reason for running as a write-in is different than his opponents, is relatively new to Highland Park but sees it as a strength. If elected mayor, he said keeping current and future residents and businesses in Highland Park safe is a top priority.
“I understand that some people in Highland Park consider me an outsider,” said Turner, who moved to the city in 2019. “But I’ve done a deep dive into the history of the city and its government. And if you look around Highland Park, you don’t need a roadmap to identify the challenges, issues, and reasons why we need new, fresh, and strong leadership.”
Turner, the co-founder and president of Rehab Highland Park, a 501 c (3) non-profit created to beautify and revitalize Highland Park neighborhoods, believes Highland Park is positioned to move to another level but doesn’t have the right leadership in place. He feels that the city government has failed the people of Highland Park across all sectors.
“Residents want change. They want a fresh face as their next mayor,” said Turner. “Voters are ready to find a way to get away from recycling the same people thinking that they are going to do something when they are not. Highland Park needs leadership that will fight for what citizens need and deserve. I want to be that leader for this city and its people.”
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