Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Kilpatrick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Detroit | |
| In office January 1, 2002 – Present | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Archer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 8, 1970 Detroit, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Carlita Kilpatrick |
Kwame M. Kilpatrick (born June 8, 1970) is the mayor of Detroit, Michigan. Elected at age 31, he is the youngest mayor in the history of Detroit, as well as the second youngest current mayor of any major U.S. city. Kilpatrick briefly addressed the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Prior to defeating City Council President Gil Hill (former Detroit police detective who also appeared in the Beverly Hills Cop films) in the 2001 mayoral election, Kilpatrick served as a Democratic member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, becoming the first African American to lead any party in the Michigan Legislature.
Kilpatrick grew up in Detroit and attended Pelham Middle School and Cass Technical High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Florida A&M University, where he was also captain of the football team. The City of Detroit website claims that he also earned a teaching certificate from Florida A&M University. He holds a Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law (now part of Michigan State University). His mother, U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, represents Michigan's 13th District in the United States House of Representatives, and serves as the President of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 110th United States Congress. His father, Bernard Kilpatrick, served as Chief of Staff to then-Wayne County Executive Ed McNamara.
Kilpatrick is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[1], an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.
First Term
By April 2005, Kilpatrick's approval rating in Detroit was sharply declining due to the scandals and a perceived lack of improvement in the city. As a result, the April 17, 2005 issue of Time Magazine listed him as one of the three worst big-city mayors in the United States [1][2], along with Dick Murphy of San Diego and John F. Street of Philadelphia.
In May 2005, the Detroit Free Press reported that over the first 33 months of his term, Kilpatrick had charged over $210,000 on his city-issued credit card for travel, meals, and entertainment.
In October 2005 Kilpatrick caused controversy with an advertisement which compared media criticism of him to lynch mobs. [3]
2005 Re-Election Campaign
In 2005, both Kilpatrick and his challenger Freman Hendrix – both Democrats - initially claimed victory but as the count proceeded it became clear that Kilpatrick had come back from his stretch of unpopularity to win a second term in office. Only three months ago most commentators declared his political career over after he was the first Detroit incumbent mayor to come in second in a primary. Pre-election opinion polls predicted a win for Hendrix. However, Kilpatrick won with 53 percent of the vote, although there were reports of election fraud. [4]
Kilpatrick touted his accomplishments -- improved city services, new homes, and downtown construction -- for the revitalization of Detroit.
Second Term
Kilpatrick was hospitalized in Houston, Texas, in July 2006, diagnosed with diverticulitis. Dr. Aaron Maddox, Kilpatrick's personal physician indicated that Kilpatrick's condition may have been caused by Kilpatrick's high-protein weight-loss diet. [5]
In July 2006, Detroit's city council voted unanimously to approve Kilpatrick’s tax plan, which he said he hopes will provide homeowners some relief from the city’s high property tax rates. The cuts ranged from 18% to 35%, depending on the property’s value. [[6]] The City of Detroit has had a balanced budget since 2006.
Civic Fund Controversy
On May 8, 2007, WXYZ-TV reported that Kilpatrick used $8,600 from his secret Kilpatrick Civic Fund to take his wife, three sons and babysitter on a weeklong vacation to a a five-star California resort, the La Costa Resort and Spa[[7]]. The fund, controlled by Kilpatrick's sister and friends, was created to improve the city of Detroit through voter education, economic empowerment and crime prevention. Tax and accounting experts said Kilpatrick's use of the fund was a violation of IRS regulations[[8]].
Electoral history
- 2005 Race for Mayor (Detroit)
- Kwame Kilpatrick (D) (inc.), 53%
- Freman Hendrix (D), 47%
- 2005 Race for Mayor (Detroit) (Primary Election)
- Freman Hendrix (D), 45%
- Kwame Kilpatrick (D) (inc.), 34%
- Sharon McPhail (D), 12%
- Hansen Clarke (D), 8%
- 2001 Race for Mayor (Detroit)
- Kwame Kilpatrick (D), 54%
- Gil Hill (D), 46%
Whistleblower Trial In August, 2007, Mr. Kilpatrick was sued by two ex-members of his bodyguard staff for violation of the Whistleblower Law. It was claimed that he fired them in retalitation for them investigating his personal actions.
Trivia
- He has been nicknamed "America's First Hip-Hop Mayor," in part due to an earring that he wore in his left ear. He removed the earring during the 2005 campaign and has since not replaced it.
- A former offensive lineman for the Florida A&M University football team, Kilpatrick stands at 6'4", and weighs upwards of 300 lbs.
- He is also a member of Mt. Pavan Lodge #2, Florida A&M PHA: Prince Hall Freemasonry
- Eminem has referenced Kilpatrick in late rapper Proof's song "Pimplikeness" in the lyric "Toss a bitch out the house like Kwame Kilpatrick"
- Hush has also referenced Kilpatrick "Cause I'm trying to bring Detroit up like Kwame Kilpatrick".
References
- ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". Retrieved on June 19, 2007