Thursday, 8 January, 2009 10:38 PM

Detroit Mayoral Candidates Square Off in 2nd Debate on WADL-TV 38

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The second part of the Mayoral debate aired last night on WADL-TV 38 Detroit, with candidates D. Etta Wilcoxon, Rev. Nicholas Hood III, Coleman A. Young II, and Stanley Christmas, as each answered questions from panelists Stephen Henderson (Detroit Free Press), Nolan Finley (Detroit News), and Dayna Clark (WJR News Talk Radio) on their platforms that includes the deficits of the economy, the Big Three, and what it means to be Mayor of Detroit.

It is time for a change in city government, said Christmas, who believed that the people are entitled to a good government, jobs of the 21st century, children to have a good education, and so forth. Wilcoxson, on the otehr hand, believed that both Detroit and the neighborhoods needs to be economically revitalized in hopes of being "a city of destination". "The state is holding our money", Wilcoxon stated, who doesn't advocate cutting services but wants to make a deal with the Big Three (Chrysler, General Motors, Ford) due to their "appetite for cars".

"We're either going to sink or swim", the loving and compassionate yet self-proclaimed realist continued. "A city of destination doesn't sell off its assets but must find creative outlets." While agreed that it is time for both change and growth, Hood said that solving the rising economic decline in Detroit must be done with structure, while Christmas responded that this won't be an easy fix yet believed that "we can grind it out".

Besides dealing with the rising Great Recession, other important agendas on the table includes dealing with crime in the Motor City. If elected as Mayor, Hood said, he'll talk to the Chief of Police on being more tough on crime in the neighborhood that is affecting Detroit. "A lot of these crimes", he went on, "don't show up on homicide, but it's real life. These are tough times, and this requires tough leadership. If we commit as an community, we can do this and have a safe neighborhood."

However, according to Wilcoxon, generating revenue must be looked at for Detroit because the police department is "underfunded". She stated that there've been the citizens want the police to not only respond faster, but also be present. Christmas, though, believed that the people should also get involved in this tide. "Our children are taught to have no respect for the law," he commented, using New Year's Eve as an example, and said that, "we have to get involved and volunteered (for instance, Devil's Night)".

Meanwhile, Young didn't believe that the state of Michigan should take over the school system, and stated that a forensic audit should be done. Still, he continued, "the Mayor of Detroit should provide motivation and inspiration. There should be more jobs in Detroit; economic prosperity must be achieved through jobs. We all want a better Detroit but [we shouldn't] give up the power or [the] assets. Votes [from/by the people] should be heard".

Sharon McPhail was previously invited to joined in but refused to be debate with candidates that were randomly selected after she didn't make the cut for the final four.

The next debate will be in three weeks on the 27th with Dwayne Montgomery, Gerald Sanders, Angelo Scott Brown, and Warren Evans at 8pm on WADL-TV 38 Detroit.

The election for Mayor will be on February 24, 2009.

Related Story: Detroit Mayoral Candidates Face Off in a Debate on WADL-TV 38