Mary Sheffield

• Wayne State University (BA)
• Central Michigan University (MPA)

Mary Sheffield
Sheffield in 2024
President of the Detroit City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2022

Mary Sheffield (born 1987 or 1988) is an American politician serving as a member of the Detroit City Council since 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, she has been the president of City Council since 2022, as the youngest person ever to hold that office. She is currently a candidate in the 2025 Detroit mayoral election.

Early life and career

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]

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] By 2013, Sheffield was the co-pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church. ^[1]

Political career

Detroit City Council

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 Detroit council 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]

2025 mayoral campaign

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]}

Sheffield placed first in the primary election, and will advance to the general election in November, where she will face Solomon Kinloch Jr. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

References

1. Callwood, Brett. "Mary Sheffield, District No. 5". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
2. 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. 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. "Mary Sheffield, Stacy Pugh request recounts in closely-contested primaries for Michigan House". mlive. Associated Press. August 26, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
8. AlHajal, Khalil (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.
18. Afana, Dana; Ikonomova, Violet; Erick, M.L. (August 5, 2025). "Mary Sheffield, Solomon Kinloch heading to the general election for Detroit mayor". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
19. "Detroit Mayoral Primary Election Results 2025". The New York Times . August 5, 2025. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
20. "Track live results: Detroit mayoral primary election 2025". WDIV . August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.