Mary Sheffield

Mary Sheffield
President of the Detroit City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2022
Preceded byBrenda Jones
Member of the Detroit City Council
from the 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2014
Personal details
Born1987 or 1988 (age 37–38)
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesHorace Sheffield III (father)
Education

Mary Sheffield is an American politician from Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents the fifth district on the Detroit City Council. She is the council's president.

Early life

Sheffield grew up on the west side of Detroit.[1] She is the daughter of Horace Sheffield III, a civil rights activist and pastor at New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church.[2] Sheffield earned a bachelor's degree in public affairs from Wayne State University in 2008.[3] She earned a master's degree in public administration from Central Michigan University.[4]

Career

While she attended college, Sheffield met Benny Napoleon, the sheriff of Wayne County. He recruited her to work in the county jail system as a disciplinary hearing officer.[5][6] In 2010, Sheffield ran in the election to represent the fourth district in the Michigan House of Representatives, where Coleman Young II was not seeking reelection. In the Democratic Party primary election, Sheffield lost to Maureen Stapleton.[7]

In 2013, Sheffield ran for the Detroit City Council seat for the fifth district. She defeated Adam Hollier in the non-partisan November general election.[8][9] At age 26, Sheffield became the youngest member in history.[10] She won reelection in 2017 against Jewel Ware, a Wayne County commissioner,[11][12] and was reelected in 2021 without opposition.[13] In January 2022, the members of the council elected Sheffield to serve as council president over Mary D. Waters, succeeding Brenda Jones.[14] She became the youngest president of the council.[15]

In August 2023, Sheffield set up an exploratory committee for a candidacy for mayor of Detroit in the 2025 election, hiring Nick Rathod as an advisor.[16] Following the decision of Mike Duggan, the incumbent mayor, to not seek another term, Sheffield announced her candidacy to succeed him in December 2024.[5][17]

Personal life

Sheffield is the co-pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b Callwood, Brett. "Mary Sheffield, District No. 5". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Warikoo, Niraj (March 30, 2020). "With coronavirus spreading, Detroit churches struggle to keep on". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  3. ^ "Wayne State alumna Mary Sheffield discusses new role leading Detroit City Council". Today@Wayne. May 15, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Neavling, Steve. "Mary Sheffield lays out vision for a more equitable Detroit, if she runs for mayor". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Afana, Dana (December 10, 2024). "Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield announces run for mayor". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Barrett, Malachi (December 11, 2024). "Sheffield lays out vision for Detroit's next chapter". BridgeDetroit. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  7. ^ Press, The Associated (August 26, 2010). "Mary Sheffield, Stacy Pugh request recounts in closely-contested primaries for Michigan House". mlive. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  8. ^ [email protected], Khalil AlHajal (November 6, 2013). "Five new faces will join four re-elected Detroit City Council incumbents". mlive. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "4 incumbents, 5 newcomers elected to Detroit City Council". Crain's Detroit Business. November 5, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. ^ Dixon, Delaina. "Standing on Business: Mary Sheffield Bids to Make History as Detroit's First Woman Mayor". Ebony. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  11. ^ Terry, Nicquel (October 24, 2017). "Councilwoman Sheffield faces longtime commissioner Ware". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "Detroit City Council members Tate, Sheffield, Castaneda-Lopez, Jones keep their seats". November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. ^ Dickson, James David (November 3, 2021). "Detroit City Council newcomers say turnover signals need for change". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ^ "Mary Sheffield selected as Detroit's next city council president". FOX 2 Detroit. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. ^ "Detroit's Youngest City Council President Empowers Black Women To "Lead From Where They Are"". Essence. April 8, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ^ Afana, M. L. Elrick and Dana (August 28, 2023). "Council President Mary Sheffield gets a head start in the 2025 race for mayor of Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Aguilar, Louis (December 10, 2024). "Council President Mary Sheffield launches campaign to be Detroit's first female mayor". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.