Debra Mayfield, UIN staff 3-4-25

Several hundred, perhaps closer to a couple of thousand Michigan’s Democratic leaders, elected or appointed officials and their constituents gathered Saturday, February 22nd at the Marriott Hotel at the RenCen for the 2025 Michigan State Democratic Party Spring Convention.

 

I am a novice, this was my first State Convention, my first time as a reporter for the Urban Information Network and my first on-the-job training assignment.  

 

I got in the line for “credentials” like everyone else thinking it would be a quick process since I had ‘pre-registered’ the day before.  Unfortunately, it was not a quick process and I ended up in a line for over two and a half hours—then a lightbulb went off in my mind–perhaps I should go to the Press Club table?  (I was waiting for the cameraman, Sonwabo) that took all of 5 minutes.  Go figure?  It pays to use what influence you have, sometimes.

 

 

With my new Press Badge in hand, I moved on to the Ambassador Ballroom where a few of the many Mayoral Candidate hopefuls were passing by; i.e., Mary Sheffield and their campaign’s cheerleaders in colorful t-shirts and calling out loud cheers.  Solomon Kinloch’s campaign cheerleaders were there, yet Todd Perkins’ and Saunteel Jenkins had tables set up with flyers.

 

I sat with some of those who had also waited in line for over 2 hours to get the required credential/badge and we commiserated as to why the process was so unorganized.  One lady named Sandy Helling, from Dearborn Heights, told of several years volunteering for the Party and couldn’t understand what was going on with today’s Democratic Party.

 

I met and spoke with a lady named ‘Bree’ from Local Union 412 in Grand Rapids, a skilled trades union, and she too had been to a previous Convention in Lansing, MI. She noted it was much more organized and there was not an hour or more wait for credentials.

 

I also spoke with a lady named Olivia. She and I had waited together for over 2 hours. I left and she stayed and eventually got her badge.  We saw each other again in the 12th Congressional District caucus in the Ambassador Room.

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There in the Ambassador Ballroom, hundreds of the 12th Congressional District Democrats (John Conyers old district) were in the packed and standing room only crowd.  I watched the entire nominating process for Vice-Chairperson and Recording Secretary.  The winners were Ms. Tomena Rawls, Statutory Vice-Chairperson and Steven Chisholm, Recording Secretary.

 

Finally, I got the call from my camerman, ‘Sonwabo’.  We were getting ready to do the Assignment:  Interview anyone willing to state why they were here and what did they hope to see come out of being here.

 

 

From 3:00 p.m. until close to 5:00 p.m. we interviewed at least

twenty individuals, some notable and others, not so notable, but

important individuals because their participation counts; i.e., Keith

Williams; Joe Tate; Hester Wheeler; Martha G. Scott; Martin C.

Tutwiler; Kim of District 3; Sylvia McClinton, Whitney Clark; Liz Dupee;

Markese Russell; Theo of Hood Research.

 

The overall conclusion I found in the responses from each of those

interviewed, was the strong disconnect between those in office and

those who were concerned citizens.

 

 

All of the elected officials expressed feigned optimism for the

Future of the Democratic party, this is despite  suffering one of one of the worst losses in party history.  Conversely, however, the regular citizens, from their

comments, felt cheated (‘pissed off’ McClinton said) by what they

actually saw:  They felt the party had let them down again; Al Williams

lost by a dubious ‘not enough names gathered’…Keith Williams won by

so-called ‘acclamation’…others could not vote due to missing the cut-

off time—due to no fault of their own.

An air of excitement was not evident at this event. Given the number on Democrats in the city of Detroit, you would think Al Williams, a native son, could have easily got the party Chairmanship. According to rumored information, he did not have enough signatures to qualify. (several attempt to reach him by phone was unsuccessful).

So with Detroit’s leader (Mike Duggan) jumping ship, Detroit Dems are a ship without a rudder.

 

There continues to be a strong disconnect between those in Michigan

democratic party’s leadership and those they serve? 

 

Debra Mayfield

Urban Information Network

orlando.detiptv.com