These days, Mary Waters, Detroit City Councilmember At-Large, is facilitating a delicate but impressive political balancing act. While continuing her active public servant role as one of the City Council’s most progressive members, Waters is also running in a heated race for Congress in the Michigan 13th Congressional District. A win for Waters in the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 6, over the Democratic incumbent Shri Thanedar or candidate Shakira Lynn Hawkins (an African American) would propel Waters to the general election (Nov. 5) against Republican candidate and African American Martell Bivings. November’s winner goes to Capitol Hill.
The Michigan Chronicle recently spoke with Waters about her campaign and vision for the 13th Congressional District.
“The race is going great,” said Waters. “I’m getting more and more support and endorsements, especially after Mayor Duggan endorsed me at the recent Mackinac Policy Conference. I was already getting endorsements, but the mayor’s was great. And I was happy that many of my colleagues on City Council stood with the mayor in support of me at the conference. They didn’t have to do it, but they did, and I appreciate it.”
The 13th Congressional District consists of portions of Detroit and Dearborn Heights, the Grosse Pointes, Allen Park, Ecorse, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Wayne, and Wyandotte.
Waters said while the cities in the 13th share many common issues, each has problems specific to their respective municipality.
“The people across the 13th Congressional District are concerned about many things, including aging infrastructure, flooding, accessibility to affordable housing, services to seniors, clean water and other environmental concerns, public health, and more,” Waters said. “Employment and the growth of businesses are also issues of concern. ”
Waters said her track record is one of getting things done. She has long championed policies that have spurred economic growth, civil and social rights, and educational advancements for underserved communities.
Under the City Council banner, Waters chairs the Minority Business Task Force, which helps to grow and advance small and minority-owned businesses. In addition, Waters chairs the Skilled Trades Task Force, created to spotlight opportunities for Detroiters to enter skilled trades training and receive good-paying jobs associated with the in-demand industry.
Waters believes that what she has successfully created and facilitated in Detroit can be mirrored in other cities in the 13th Congressional District. However, expanding the opportunities throughout the district will require a broader vision and better funding.
“We need more federal dollars to come into the 13th,” Waters said emphatically. “And I will push hard and bring federal dollars home to help businesses, expand skilled trades, and create other economic generating endeavors. I will push hard for federal money to help empower all people throughout the district.”
Waters said the district’s current congressperson, Shri Thandar, has not brought the sizable resources needed to help a large, diverse district with its issues.
“He just has not been effective,” Waters said without hesitation. “As I go throughout the district, I am getting the same type of feedback from people who feel neglected by him. I don’t think he understands what it means to work with people, organizations, and officials across the 13th Congressional District. The congressperson in Washington D.C. representing the needs and issues back home must know what the people need, and if the representative doesn’t understand and can’t bring back major resources to the district, that’s a problem.”
Mayor Duggan agreed.
“We need someone in Congress who fights for us, and right now, I feel like we don’t have any help,” Duggan said when he publicly endorsed Waters for Congress. “We can’t afford to carry a congressperson who isn’t responsive. He (Thanedar) is not a bad person. He’s just not helping.”
Waters acknowledged that Thandar holds a significant cash advantage in funding his campaign mainly because he’s a millionaire, which is a big boost. However, Waters said more money is coming into her campaign since the mayor’s endorsements and others from the UAW, Strong Women Lead, the Black Mayors of Michigan, and others.
“He has all of this money, but he can’t buy goodwill and can’t buy the needed tools to be an effective and faithful public servant,” said Waters. “He can run all of the ads that he wants, but at the end of the day, the people of the 13th Congressional District will make the final decision.”
While Waters vows to serve all who call the 13th Congressional District home, it’s not lost on her that the district has a large population of African Americans. The 13th Congressional District – often called “The Mighty 13th – has a population of around 757, 463. Due to its Black population of about 48.2 percent, the Democratic stronghold is a “Majority-Minority district.” Except for a few years, the 13th has sent a Black congressperson to Washington, D.C. since Charles Diggs in 1955. Waters believes Black leadership matters in the 13th.
“We must send someone to Washington who knows and understands the unique issues facing African Americans in the 13th,” said Waters. “However, everybody in the 13th Congressional District is important, so I want to be that public servant who brings all people in the district together and addresses their significant issues.”
Waters believes her 30-plus years’ experience as a public servant gives her the edge to better serve the 13th Congressional District than her opponents. She points to three terms served in the State House of Representatives, where she was the first African American Female Floor Leader, her work with a major labor union while employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and her progressive City Council tenure rooted in getting things done for the people of Detroit.
“As Black mayors, we understand the critical importance of having strong, effective representation in Congress,” said Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad, who chairs the Black Mayors of Michigan. “Mary Waters has demonstrated time and again her ability to fight for the needs of our communities. Her vision, experience, and dedication make her the right choice for the 13th Congressional District. Mary will advocate for policies that promote justice, equity, and opportunity for all.”
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