As others jump, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing coy on re-election bid

Detroit ? As he prepares to deliver what could be his final State of the City speech Wednesday, speculation is swirling over whether embattled Mayor Dave Bing will fight to retain his seat.

The first-term mayor, 69, has until May 14 to officially decide his next steps, and City Hall observers are watching for hints on whether he will run. Political insiders are buzzing about a possible campaign fundraiser later this month, but mayoral officials would not confirm the event.

"No decision has been made regarding my re-election plans, and I have no comment relative to a timetable," Bing said in a statement.

"Iremain focused on executing my restructuring plan to stabilize the City of Detroit."

Longtime ally Karen Dumas said it's a toss-up whether the mayor will run for re-election.

On one hand, Bing is a team player who may want to pass the baton, she said. The flip side is Bing is "very competitive" and he may want to carry his agenda through during a second term, Dumas said.

"At this point it's anybody's guess," said Dumas, Bing's former chief of communications. "Anybody who has the interest, willingness and commitment to run deserves to be considered. ? The mayor made a commitment early on to restore interest in the office of mayor and without a doubt he has done that.

"The mayor's job is thankless. If you've never been on the inside, you don't understand how difficult it is."

Longtime political analyst Adolph Mongo was more unequivocal. He said he had a meeting with Bing last weekend and was told the mayor is not seeking re-election.

Mongo called it "the worst kept secret in Detroit."

"He's not running ... and he needs to be honest with the people of Detroit that he's not running," Mongo said. "He's tired and he just thought he would have to come in and be temporary."

Potential candidate list grows

If Bing jumps in, he would join state Reps. Lisa Howze and Fred Durhal, and former Detroit Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon in the August primary. The general election will be in November.

Former Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan on Monday said he will formally announce his mayoral intentions on Feb. 26. Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon has created an exploratory committee, and former candidate Tom Barrow, who has sought the post three times, has reactivated his exploratory committee.

The mayor's race comes during a pivotal time as Detroit struggles to stay financially solvent. A state-appointed team is reviewing the city's finances and could make a recommendation soon on Detroit's financial future, including whether it needs an emergency financial manager.

Some political analysts said the city's fiscal condition, coupled with the mayor's health and the stress of dealing with a fickle city council, are enough to prompt Bing to step down. Bing spent nearly a month away from City Hall after having surgery in late March.

Political expert Eric Foster, who worked as a consultant during Bing's first mayoral run, said key losses to campaign operations could make it more difficult for him to run.

Many of those who helped Bing win have cut ties with him. Among those are former Bing appointee Charlie Beckham, who left the administration in 2010. Political consultant Kamau Marable, a legislative aide, also left the administration in 2011. Spokesman Cliff Russell and marketing guru Aqunetta Pierce worked on the Bing campaign but not in his administration, Foster said.

Duggan's camp has acquired the services of the Mellman Group, a Washington, D.C.-based political research firm that recently conducted polling. The company worked for Bing in 2009, campaign finance records show.

Consultant Dave Katz, a former Wayne County aide and a senior vice president with the Detroit Medical Center, also is on board with Duggan. His wife, Jill Alper, has been a longtime Bing consultant.

"Your major consultants that help you ? are either not involved in current operations or with other campaigns. That's an important thing to highlight," Foster said.

"He's disbanded his team. That tells you everything you need to know right there whether he is going to run or not."

Bing may have lost some key advisers, but his chief fundraiser, Cathy Govan, still appears to be on board. Govan, along with consultant Emmett Moten, quietly raised money for a possible Bing run last summer.

The political price of indecision

The mayor's most recent campaign finance report shows a Bing held a fundraiser in July at the Detroit Athletic Club. Nearly 150 people attended the event that raised $122,875.

Bing's indecision is reminiscent of the 2001 campaign, when then-Mayor Dennis Archer waited until April to announce his intention to step down. His wavering caused his deputy mayor, Freman Hendrix, to leave the administration and not make a mayoral run.

Hendrix had been waiting on a decision from Archer before deciding to get in the race. As a mayoral appointee, Hendrix wasn't going to take on the incumbent mayor.

He is not expected to make a mayoral run this year.

Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, described Bing as "an enigma" who will make his decision on his own timeframe.

"It's all in his head," Ballenger said. "He'll decide whether he runs again or not, and we can't bully him into making a decision earlier than he wants to."

With Bing, the uncertainty makes him come across as someone who may be disinterested or doesn't find the job to be rewarding, experts said. Ballenger said he thinks the uncertainty hurts Bing, but "that's part of the package."

"Of course he's vulnerable, but that doesn't mean he's an automatic loser if he decides to run again," Ballenger said.

Pollster Bernie Porn said Bing probably has doubts about whether he can win if he decides to make a mayoral run.

A Detroit News poll, conducted Sept. 22-25 by the Chicago-based Glengariff Group Inc. and funded by the Thompson Foundation, found more than 63 percent of Detroiters have no faith in Bing or the Detroit City council to fix the city, and 82 percent said Bing does not deserve to be re-elected.

Porn said he'd instruct Bing to do internal polling to see where his numbers stand and make a decision from there. The splitting of the vote may be too tough for Bing to survive, Porn said.

"If he's not telling his strongest supporters he's looking at running again that causes them to have their doubts and also look at other possibilities and candidates," said Porn, who works for Lansing-based EPIC-MRA.

"The delays cannot help him. It can only exaggerate the issues.

"(Bing) has to take into account who are the likely candidates (in the race). It all depends on what the division of the electorate might be. I don't know if a poll will show (his vulnerability). It may just be it's not in the cards for him to run again and win."

dnichols@detnews.com

(313) 222-2072

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130212/METRO01/302120359/1408/LOCAL

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