It may be a familiar name to many...and now ex-Detroit mayoral candidate Freman Hendrix says he's running again. The one-time deputy mayor told WWJ that he's entering the Feb. 24 special mayoral primary. Kwame Kilpatrick won re-election in 2005 over Hendrix but resigned last month as part of a plea deal that's sending him to jail for 120 days.
Hendrix spoke with WWJ about what he thinks Detroiters are looking for: "Clearly Detroiters are looking for someone who will be operating with integrity and with transparency; someone who will be requiring accountability in city government."
Hendrix also says he decided to take on this responsibility because he's already been in the mayor's office. This has allowed him to understand what it takes to balance budgets and work through the bureaucracy; understands the politics locally - in Lansing - as well as in Washington D.C.; and the stresses the position has on him and his family.
Also running: Democratic state Senator Buzz Thomas took out petitions Friday to seek to complete Kilpatrick's term. And ex-city councilman the Rev. Nicholas Hood III tells the Detroit Free Press he'll run, too. Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. has said he'll run in the nonpartisan election after succeeding Kilpatrick. Businessman and NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing also has picked up petitions.
The special elections will be held in February, and the runoff is May 5.
WWJ contributed to this report.
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