Candidate Profile: Mary Waters For Detroit City Council

Mary Waters

Age (as of Election Day)

65

Position Sought

Detroit City Council At-Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

n/a

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Education

B.A In Communication and Behavioral Sciences, University of Michigan

Occupation

Instructor, Wayne County Community College

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Former State Representative, 4th District, Michigan House of Representatives 2001-2006

Campaign website

https://www.marywatersfordetro...

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking an elected position because I see a profound lack in the representation of the will of the people. Elected officials should strive to be the mouthpiece of the people.
I believe that listening with care, concern and compassion is the first step to identifying and improving Detroit.
Not only that, but I believe that water shut-offs in Detroit are still a contentious issue, and water is a human right. I believe that Detroit can come up with a plan that will protect citizens from shut-offs, while still supplying the city with the necessary funds to maintain the aging infrastructure. I want to be a part of the conversation that extends beyond temporary aid for delinquent water bills.
The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue for the entire city is housing. Issues with housing in the city run rampant: There is not enough livable housing, renovation costs are astronomical, property taxes are a significant burden, and homeowners are being crushed under the weight of repairs they cannot afford.

If elected, I would focus on working with lenders to fund forgivable loans for home repairs, protecting residents from property tax foreclosure, and bringing more actual affordable housing units to the city. There are some citizens who live in deplorable conditions in a home they own, simply because financing for repairs is out of reach. There are already a few banking entities that work with Detroit homeowners, but I would attempt to expand the partnerships and increase the types of financing available for home repairs. I would also seek grant funding and federal programming assistance to ensure success.

To shield more Detroiters from property tax foreclosure, I would like to work to intensely promote the Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program, and other flexible payment options offered by both the Detroit Tax Relief Fund and the Wayne County Treasurer’s office. To bring more affordable housing units to the city, my office would need to hold certain corporate entities to their promises of building such units, as well as support smaller development companies who solely focus on affordable, sustainable housing.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I think that my old-school, boots on the ground approach is going to energize and engage Detroit citizens. I have a demonstrated history of public service, from serving on the Detroit Charter Commission from 1993-1996, to serving in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001-2006 and a few things in between. But make no mistake, I am not a career politician. I am active an engaged in the community, whether I am running for office or not. From hosting talks about minority access to the cannabis industry to walking along the Riverwalk with other Detroiters trying to get healthy, I am active and engaged.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The Detroit City Council as a whole failed its constituents when it approved the use of a facial recognition technology that mis-identified Robert Williams in 2020. On the whole, facial recognition technology is well known to mis-identify people of color.
In a city where a great majority of the population is composed of people of color, it is unacceptable to use a technology that is inaccurate and can lead to the worst imaginable consequences.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I appreciate every step that local officials took to keep us safe during the pandemic. Information is key, and the City Health Department did an excellent job of keeping people informed, keeping testing centers open around the city, and getting the word out about the vaccine.
If elected, I would enjoy working with the Health Department to engage more populations digitally and, in person when it is safe to do so. As a breast cancer survivor information is a valuable resource, and becomes even more so valuable in the hands of the people.
I would not change a thing, and I am proud of our city leadership for their handling of an unprecedented situation.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We need neighborhoods that work, true affordable housing and small business opportunities. Residents of all neighborhoods throughout the city should be offered opportunities to keep and improve their properties, through mechanisms like forgivable loans and grants.

The health of every man, woman and child is of the utmost importance. As evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Detroiters suffer from a myriad of chronic health conditions that only exacerbated its effects. We must work to increase information and access to screening for chronic health conditions.

Minority access to the cannabis industry is a cause that I champion. It is not fair or equitable that the very industry that packed our prisons full of minorities for simple possession, is now excluding those same minorities from the profits derived from legalization. There are high hurdles, and an ongoing regulatory battle, but Detroit, and the rest of Michigan, must ensure more minorities are able to participate in the cannabis economy.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a former Michigan State Representative, I served with a perfect attendance record. Not only was I present, but I was engaged as well. Putting together a package of bills to advance expungement laws paved the way to the changes you see now was an achievement that point directly to my tenacity, grit and determination to serve the people.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me was Shakespearean in nature: To Thine Own Self Be True. As long as I stay true to myself and my purpose, I can do anything.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am not running for Detroit City Council as a pathway to another office. Detroit is my home, my family, my life. Detroiters deserve better than what they have been getting, and I intend to make that happen.