Detroit City Council has a new leader after a vote in a special session Monday that illustrated the expected factions based on differences in political philosophies between members on the body.
Former Detroit City Council president pro-tem James Tate of District 1 is now the president of the body after a 5-4 vote. District 3 council member Scott Benson was the runner-up.
Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey presided over Detroit City Council’s special session today as it began the new year without a city council president. The president and president pro-tempore are selected to four year terms by vote among members of the body.
City council began selecting presidents by majority vote of the members in 2014.
Council member at-large Mary Waters expressed disappointment Monday inside the City Council’s Erma Henderson Auditorium after she says she didn’t hear back from colleagues other than Benson on her aspirations to run again for council president. She did in 2021, receiving a vote from District 2 council member Angela Whitfield Calloway.
“And I wanted to express my appreciation to you for reaching out and wanting me to assume this position, but also want you to know, they only have one vote, just mine, I couldn’t get another single vote for my run for president,” Waters said.
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Waters says she didn’t hear from James Tate, who is also running for president: “I’m not sure what that says, for partnerships and our ability to work in the future… we’re off to a bad start.”
James Tate and Scott Benson were the two candidates who received votes.
Benson says he’s not going to be a rubber stamp, acknowledges differences: “Today’s vote isn’t just about political leadership, It’s also about a blueprint for how I intend to lead this entire body by synthesizing our diverse views into a resilient, strong, effective Council.”
Tate said in a statement ahead of the vote that he’s always tried to be fair with his colleagues.
“I’m asking for your support, not because I see this role as a prize, but because I see it as a responsibility to protect the unity and dignity of the body at a time when uncertainty still surrounds our city…”
The votes went as follows:
Renata Miller(D5): Benson; Gabriela Santiago-Romero(D6): Tate; Waters(at-large): Benson; Whitfield Calloway(D2): Benson; Benson (D3): Benson; Latisha Johnson(D4): Tate; Tate(D1): Tate; Young (at-large): Tate; Denzell McCampbell(D7): Tate.
Shortly after the vote Monday, Coleman A. Young II was elected as Detroit City Council president pro-tem. Tate nominated Young to the position he held for the last four years.
The breakdown in votes for president reflect the political difference between a more pro-business wing and the leftist, DSA/Working Families Party wing of the body. How these factions work together or not on certain proposals could will affect the council’s ability to work with the newly elected mayor.
New Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield won over support from local business leaders after they initially backed her former city council colleague and former state Rep. Fred Durhal III. However, she has promised supporters the most inclusive and people centered leadership in the city’s history.
Tate was one of several city council members who did not vocally back a candidate for mayor, but he did donate to Sheffield’s opponents campaign. The two worked together as president and president pro-tem from 2021-2025.
Tate has served on the body since 2013 when the city was working through emergency management amid the nation’s largest ever municipal bankruptcy.
Before he joined council he was a deputy chief at the Detroit Police Department.
