Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey Addresses Hefty Tax Debt, Liens

DETROIT, MI — Longtime Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey recently addressed her personal finances, which have come under scrutiny as she faces re-election in November.

Winfrey owes nearly $65,000 in unpaid taxes and has liens placed on her home, according to Detroit Free Press. The liens were filed earlier this year.

During an interview with WWJ News Radio Friday, she told show host Charlie Langton that she and her husband are on a payment plan with the IRS.

When asked if she should be required to publicly disclose specific details of her debt, Winfrey said:

"I am a public official, but if you want a list of all my bills have at it, I got them. But guess what? I also pay them. Yeah, we got behind for personal reasons."

In the upcoming election, Winfrey faces Denzel McCampbell, who reacted to her recent interview, telling FOX 2 that he hopes she continues to be transparent with voters.

"The issue here is that this is a public official," McCampbell told the TV station. "While it is personal finances, we’re talking about, public tax dollars that we ask all Detroiters and all Americans to be current with."

Winfrey was first elected as Detroit's city clerk in 2005.