Imagine that.
Posted on 01/12/2005 8:08:11 PM PST by citygirl313
By Bankole Thompson The Michigan Citizen
DETROIT — Describing herself as a fresh voice calling for change, 26-year-old Karinda Washington is eying a seat on the Detroit City Council in 2005.
The native Detroiter and Eastern Michigan University graduate plans to kick off her campaign recently to “restore faith, leadership, dignity and integrity to council.”
She said Detroit needs leadership to address the mass exodus of young people leaving the city in search of greener pastures.
“My focal point is the fleet of young adults,” Washington said. “I would like to focus my efforts on supporting initiatives that will draw men and women to Detroit but also sustain the viability that is currently here.”
Washington said she would follow the City Charter if elected.
“I believe citizens in Detroit feel council has more power than it actually has,” Washington said. “The promises that are within my limitation, I will stick with.”
The number of young people, especially African Americans, assuming office around the country has been significant, with more recent examples including Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Washington, whose mantra is “Rise above it all,” said, “I’m a part of a new generation that is tired of sitting down and talking about issues without doing anything.”
Contrary to Kilpatrick’s call for a Motor City “makeover” to address residents’ needs, Washington is calling for a Motor City “takeover.”
A factor in her winning a seat on council would partly depend on her ability to galvanize the so-called hip-hop generation, most of whom do not vote.
Washington represents an answer to voter apathy, her co-campaign manager, Granton Brooks, said. “We will get the hip-hop generation to vote because they can relate to her and feel comfortable coming to her, as opposed to someone twice their age,” he said.
The Rev. Joseph Jordan, president of the Detroit Council of Baptist Pastors and a supporter of Washington, said the city council candidate would have to woo more than just the hip-hop generation.
“She will have to convince the seniors in this city that she can deliver,” Jordan said. “She will have to provide the kind of leadership that will uplift the lives of people.”
Jordan said he was impressed with Washington, who grew up in his church, Corinthian Missionary Baptist, in Hamtramck.
Washington’s campaign plans to raise $120,000, or more, if possible, Brooks said. Johnny E. Washington Jr., the candidate’s father, said his daughter was not daunted by any challenge.
“The more the better,” he said. “She likes it.”
Imagine that.
If she'd not tied to Keith Stallings, McPhail, Kilpatrick, Conyers, Coleman Young, Mike Duggan, or most of all Ed McNamara - she can't do any worse than whose there now.
“My focal point is the fleet of young adults,”
Come on now. Did she really say this? "Fleet", as in the past tense of "flight", or what? And she's a recent EMU grad?
The great unraveling of Detroit continues...
Detroit is a dung-heap and another pile of liberal "hip-hop" ain't gonna fix it...
Sounds like Johnny Cochran... "not a makeover, a takeover". If the hip-hop generation takes over, it'll be a return to Coleman Young days -- oh, there's only a drug problem because of those white kids bringing it in from the suburbs.
"Emus, Joe. It's the pork of the future."
Welcome to Free Republic.
The first order of business to attract folks fleeing Detroit is getting rid of that 3% city income tax.
That, and all the crime.
Welcome to FreeRepublic.com.
..I think you may have wandered onto the wrong site.
Hey, what the heck. Detroit will try anybody as some of their past "leaders" have proven. Why not this one?
Welcome to FR; why are you telling us about this?
Welcome to Free Republic. Perhaps you are on the wrong site, troll.
'She will have to convince the seniors in this city that she can deliver,”
Dominos Pizza?
meek-em, Dano
"sniff" Either that burrito went right through me, or I smell campaign spam.
No burrito ever smelled that bad!
No burrito ever smelled that bad!
Mmmmmmm......morning troll.
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