# Detroit City Council

The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The Detroit City Council has elected Mary Sheffield to be its president. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or of at least four members of council.

## History

The city council was first constituted as the legislative body of the city in 1824. The city began to grow more rapidly in the late 19th century, absorbing immigrants from Europe and migrants from the rural South and other areas. This body was called the Common Council until July 1, 1974.
Until the early 20th century, the council was elected from city wards, or single-member districts. However, starting in 1918, at a time of changes in local government thought to be Progressive, the city council voted to require all city council members elected at-large. This reduced representation by geography from wards, where various ethnic groups tended to concentrate. It was considered unusual for a city of Detroit's size, which had competing political parties.
While voters in the city have become predominantly affiliated with the Democratic Party, they wanted more representation by district. On November 4, 2009, city voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum to once again elect seven of the nine council seats from single-member districts, and two at-large seats, beginning in 2013.

## Composition & Election

The council is composed of nine members, seven of whom are district representatives elected from single-member districts, with two additional members elected at-large using block voting. The district representatives are elected by a majority in a general election, with the general election candidates being selected in a top-two non-partisan primary election. The council includes two officers, the president and president pro tempore, who are elected from among the members of the council at the beginning of each new session of the body for four-year terms. The officers can be removed by a unanimous vote of council, exclusive of the member being removed, during any session meeting. Elections to the body are officially non-partisan.

## City Council Electoral Districts

A major overhaul of Detroit City Charter took place in 2012. This change moved to election by district for 7 districts and 2 at-large positions.

### Current members

| District | Councillor | Position | In office since | Party (officially nonpartisan) |
| District 1: Rosedale Park/Old Redford/Brightmoor | James Tate | Pro-Tempore | 2010 | Democratic |
| District 2: Bagley/University District/Palmer Woods | Angela Whitfield-Calloway | | 2022 | Democratic |
| District 3: Conant Gardens/Regent Park/Farwell | Scott Benson | | 2014 | Democratic |
| District 4: Chandler Park/East English/Jefferson Chalmers | Latisha Johnson | | 2022 | Democratic |
| District 5: Boston Edison/Lafayette Park/Brush Park | Mary Sheffield | President | 2014 | Democratic |
| District 6: Delray/Midtown/Mexicantown | Gabriela Santiago-Romero | | 2022 | Democratic |
| District 7: Warrendale/Russel Woods/Rouge Park | Fred Durhal III | | 2022 | Democratic |
| At-large | Coleman Young II | | 2022 | Democratic |
| At-large | Mary Waters | | 2022 | Democratic |

### Committees

The council has six standing committees:
* Budget, Finance & Audit
* Neighborhood & Community Services
* Internal Operations
* Public Health & Safety
* Planning and Economic Development
* Rules
The council is granted the power to form additional committees at its own discretion

## Vacancies and special elections

If a vacancy occurs on the city council, it is filled by appointment of the city council based on a two-thirds vote of its existing members. The appointee serves until an elected member takes office, which is filled at the next general election scheduled in the city not held sooner than 180 days after the vacancy occurs, be that an election to fill federal, state, county or city offices.

## Former members

Starting in 1919, nine Detroit City Council members were elected at large. Members of the council, from 1919 to the present, are:
* Color coding: pink = Republican; blue = Democratic; light green = Farmer-Labor; dark green = Progressive; gray = unaffiliated.
| Year | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members | Detroit City Council Members |
| 1919 | John C. Lodge | James Vernor | John C. Nagel | Sherman Littlefield | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Charles F. Bielman (Died April 16, 1920) | Fred W. Castator | David W. Simons | John Kronk |
| | John C. Lodge | James Vernor | John C. Nagel | Sherman Littlefield | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Richard M. Watson (Elected November 21, 1920) | Fred W. Castator | David W. Simons | John Kronk |
| 1922 | John C. Lodge | James Vernor | John C. Nagel | Sherman Littlefield | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Richard M. Watson (Elected November 21, 1920) | Fred W. Castator | Robert G. Ewald | John Kronk |
| 1924 | John C. Lodge | John Stevenson | John C. Nagel | Sherman Littlefield | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Arthur E. Dingeman | Fred W. Castator | Robert G. Ewald | Phillip A. Callahan |
| 1926 | John C. Lodge | John Stevenson | John C. Nagel | Sherman Littlefield | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Arthur E. Dingeman | Fred W. Castator | Robert G. Ewald | Phillip A. Callahan |
| 1928 | John C. Lodge | George A. Walters | John Kronk | Sherman Littlefield | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Arthur E. Dingeman | Fred W. Castator | Robert G. Ewald | Phillip A. Callahan |
| 1930 | John C. Nagel | George A. Walters | John Kronk | John S. Hall (Died January 19, 1934) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | Arthur E. Dingeman | Fred W. Castator | Robert G. Ewald | Phillip A. Callahan |
| 1932 | Frank Couzens | John W. Smith | Richard Lindsay (Died January 7, 1937) | John S. Hall (Died January 19, 1934) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | John C. Lodge | Fred W. Castator | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| 1934 | George Engle (Until June 23, 1937) | John W. Smith | Richard Lindsay (Died January 7, 1937) | John S. Hall (Died January 19, 1934) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | John C. Lodge | Fred W. Castator | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| | George Engle (Until June 23, 1937) | John W. Smith | Richard Lindsay (Died January 7, 1937) | Arthur E. Dingeman (November 13, 1934 – Oct. 1935) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | John C. Lodge | Fred W. Castator | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| 1936 | George Engle (Until June 23, 1937) | John W. Smith | Richard Lindsay (Died January 7, 1937) | Robert G. Ewald (Out May 26, 1942) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | John C. Lodge | Fred W. Castator | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| | | John W. Smith | John Kronk (Elected April 5, 1937) | Robert G. Ewald (Out May 26, 1942) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | John C. Lodge | Fred W. Castator | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| 1938 | Philip Breitmeyer | Harry I. Dingeman (Out April 10, 1941) | John Kronk (Elected April 5, 1937) | Robert G. Ewald (Out May 26, 1942) | William P. Bradley (Died June 1938) | John C. Lodge | Henry S. Sweeny | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| | Philip Breitmeyer | Harry I. Dingeman (Out April 10, 1941) | John Kronk (Elected April 5, 1937) | Robert G. Ewald (Out May 26, 1942) | John W. Smith (Elected November 8, 1938, Died June 1942) | John C. Lodge | Henry S. Sweeny | Eugene Van Antwerp | Edward Jeffries |
| 1940 | Charles E. Dorais (Rsgd. May 27, 1947) | Harry I. Dingeman (Out April 10, 1941) | John Hamilton (Out April 2, 1941) | Robert G. Ewald (Out May 26, 1942) | John W. Smith (Elected November 8, 1938, Died June 1942) | John C. Lodge | Henry S. Sweeny | Eugene Van Antwerp | James H. Garlick |
| 1942 | Charles E. Dorais (Rsgd. May 27, 1947) | William G. Rogell | George C. Edwards | William A. Comstock (Died June 16, 1949) | John W. Smith (Elected November 8, 1938, Died June 1942) | John C. Lodge | Henry S. Sweeny | Eugene Van Antwerp | James H. Garlick |
| | Charles E. Dorais (Rsgd. May 27, 1947) | William G. Rogell | George C. Edwards | William A. Comstock (Died June 16, 1949) | Frank Cody (Elected November 3, 1942, Died April 1946) | John C. Lodge | Henry S. Sweeny | Eugene Van Antwerp | James H. Garlick |
| 1944 | Charles E. Dorais (Rsgd. May 27, 1947) | William G. Rogell | George C. Edwards | William A. Comstock (Died June 16, 1949) | Frank Cody (Elected November 3, 1942, Died April 1946) | John C. Lodge | Henry S. Sweeny | Eugene Van Antwerp | Fred C. Castator |
| 1946 | Charles E. Dorais (Rsgd. May 27, 1947) | William G. Rogell | George C. Edwards | William A. Comstock (Died June 16, 1949) | Frank Cody (Elected November 3, 1942, Died April 1946) | John C. Lodge | Charles G. Oakman | Eugene Van Antwerp | Fred C. Castator |
| | | William G. Rogell | George C. Edwards | William A. Comstock (Died June 16, 1949) | Patrick V. McNamara (Elected November 5, 1946) | John C. Lodge | Charles G. Oakman | Eugene Van Antwerp | Fred C. Castator |
| 1948 | Louis C. Miriani | Charles F. Edgecomb | George C. Edwards | William A. Comstock (Died June 16, 1949) | Leo J. Nowicki (Resigned April 14, 1948) | Del A. Smith | Charles G. Oakman | John A. Kronk (Died February 13, 1954) | James H. Garlick |
| | Louis C. Miriani | Charles F. Edgecomb | George C. Edwards | | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | Charles G. Oakman | John A. Kronk (Died February 13, 1954) | James H. Garlick |
| 1950 | Louis C. Miriani | Edward Jeffries (Died April 2, 1950) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | Charles G. Oakman | John A. Kronk (Died February 13, 1954) | James H. Garlick |
| | Louis C. Miriani | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | Charles G. Oakman | John A. Kronk (Died February 13, 1954) | James H. Garlick |
| 1952 | Louis C. Miriani | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | Charles G. Oakman | John A. Kronk (Died February 13, 1954) | James H. Garlick |
| 1954 | Louis C. Miriani | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | Charles Youngblood | John A. Kronk (Died February 13, 1954) | Blanche Parent Wise |
| | Louis C. Miriani | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | Charles Youngblood | James H. Lincoln (Elected November 2, 1944, Resigned May 5, 1960) | Blanche Parent Wise |
| 1958 | Ed Carey | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | William T. Patrick (Resigned December 31, 1963) | James H. Lincoln (Elected November 2, 1944, Resigned May 5, 1960) | Blanche Parent Wise |
| | Ed Carey | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | Del A. Smith | William T. Patrick (Resigned December 31, 1963) | Charles N. Youngblood (Elected November 8, 1960) | Blanche Parent Wise |
| 1962 | Ed Carey | Eugene Van Antwerp (Elected November 7, 1950, Died August 5, 1962) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | James H. Brickley (Resigned January 15, 1967) | William T. Patrick (Resigned December 31, 1963) | Anthony Wierzbicki | Mel Ravitz |
| | Ed Carey | Phillip J. Van Antwerp (Elected April 1, 1963) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | James H. Brickley (Resigned January 15, 1967) | William T. Patrick (Resigned December 31, 1963) | Anthony Wierzbicki | Mel Ravitz |
| | Ed Carey | Phillip J. Van Antwerp (Elected April 1, 1963) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | James H. Brickley (Resigned January 15, 1967) | Thomas L. Poindexter (Elected November 3, 1964) | Anthony Wierzbicki | Mel Ravitz |
| 1966 | Ed Carey | Phillip J. Van Antwerp (Elected April 1, 1963) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Edward Connor (Elected November 2, 1948, Resigned December 31, 1966) | James H. Brickley (Resigned January 15, 1967) | Louis C. Miriani | Nicholas Hood | Mel Ravitz |
| | Ed Carey | Phillip J. Van Antwerp (Elected April 1, 1963) | Mary Beck | William G. Rogell | Robert Tindal (Elected November 5, 1968, Died July 30, 1971) | Anthony J. Wierzbicki (Elected November 5, 1968) | Louis C. Miriani | Nicholas Hood | Mel Ravitz |
| 1970 | Carl M. Levin | Phillip J. Van Antwerp (Elected April 1, 1963) | David Eberhard | William G. Rogell | Robert Tindal (Elected November 5, 1968, Died July 30, 1971) | Anthony J. Wierzbicki (Elected November 5, 1968) | Ernest C. Browne Jr. | Nicholas Hood | Mel Ravitz |
| | Carl M. Levin | Phillip J. Van Antwerp (Elected April 1, 1963) | David Eberhard | William G. Rogell | Erma Henderson (Elected November 7, 1972) | Anthony J. Wierzbicki (Elected November 5, 1968) | Ernest C. Browne Jr. | Nicholas Hood | Mel Ravitz |
| 1974 | Carl M. Levin | Clyde Cleveland | David Eberhard | William G. Rogell | Erma Henderson (Elected November 7, 1972) | Maryann Mahaffey | Ernest C. Browne Jr. | Nicholas Hood | Jack Kelley |
| 1978 | Kenneth Cockrel Sr. | Clyde Cleveland | David Eberhard | William G. Rogell | Erma Henderson (Elected November 7, 1972) | Maryann Mahaffey | Herbert McFaddend Jr. (Died September 21, 1981) | Nicholas Hood | Jack Kelley |
| 1982 | Mel Ravitz | Clyde Cleveland | David Eberhard | Barbara-Rose Collins (Resigned 11/90) | Erma Henderson (Elected November 7, 1972) | Maryann Mahaffey | John W. Peoples | Nicholas Hood | Jack Kelley |
| 1986 | Mel Ravitz | Clyde Cleveland | David Eberhard | Barbara-Rose Collins (Resigned 11/90) | Erma Henderson (Elected November 7, 1972) | Maryann Mahaffey | John W. Peoples | Nicholas Hood | Jack Kelley |
| 1990 | Mel Ravitz | Clyde Cleveland | David Eberhard | Gil Hill | Keith Butler | Maryann Mahaffey | Kay Everett | Nicholas Hood | Jack Kelley |
| 1994 | Mel Ravitz | Clyde Cleveland | Alberta Tinsley-Talabi | Gil Hill | Nicholas Hood III | Maryann Mahaffey | Kay Everett | Sheila Cockrel | Brenda M. Scott (Died September 2, 2002) |
| 1998 | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. | Clyde Cleveland | Alberta Tinsley-Talabi | Gil Hill | Nicholas Hood III | Maryann Mahaffey | Kay Everett | Sheila Cockrel | Brenda M. Scott (Died September 2, 2002) |
| 2002 | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. | Sharon McPhail | Alberta Tinsley-Talabi | Barbara-Rose Collins | Alonzo W. Bates | Maryann Mahaffey | Kay Everett | Sheila Cockrel | Brenda M. Scott (Died September 2, 2002) |
| | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. | Sharon McPhail | Alberta Tinsley-Talabi | Barbara-Rose Collins | Alonzo W. Bates | Maryann Mahaffey | Kay Everett | Sheila Cockrel | JoAnn Watson (Elected April 29, 2003) |
| 2006 | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. | Monica Conyers | Alberta Tinsley-Talabi | Barbara-Rose Collins | Kwame Kenyatta (Resigned June 21, 2013) | Martha Reeves | Brenda Jones (see col 1 in 2014) | Sheila Cockrel | JoAnn Watson (Elected April 29, 2003) |
| 2010 | Kenneth Cockrel Jr. | Saunteel Jenkins {Resigned October 17, 2014) | James Tate District 1, Council President Pro-Tem | Charles Pugh (Seat declared vacant July 8, 2013) | Kwame Kenyatta (Resigned June 21, 2013) | Andre L. Spivey District 4 (Resigned September 29, 2021) | Brenda Jones (see col 1 in 2014) | Gary Brown (Resigned June 24, 2013) | JoAnn Watson (Elected April 29, 2003) |
| 2014 | Brenda Jones At-Large Council President | Saunteel Jenkins {Resigned October 17, 2014) | James Tate District 1, Council President Pro-Tem | George Cushingberry Jr. District 2 | Scott R. Benson District 3 | Andre L. Spivey District 4 (Resigned September 29, 2021) | Mary Sheffield District 5, Council President | Raquel Castañeda-López District 6 | Gabe Leland District 7 (Resigned May 3, 2021) |
| | Brenda Jones At-Large Council President | Janeé Ayers At-Large (Appointed February 17, 2015; elected November 8, 2016) | James Tate District 1, Council President Pro-Tem | George Cushingberry Jr. District 2 | Scott R. Benson District 3 | Andre L. Spivey District 4 (Resigned September 29, 2021) | Mary Sheffield District 5, Council President | Raquel Castañeda-López District 6 | Gabe Leland District 7 (Resigned May 3, 2021) |
| 2018 | Brenda Jones At-Large Council President | Janeé Ayers At-Large (Appointed February 17, 2015; elected November 8, 2016) | James Tate District 1, Council President Pro-Tem | Roy McCalister Jr. District 2 | Scott R. Benson District 3 | Andre L. Spivey District 4 (Resigned September 29, 2021) | Mary Sheffield District 5, Council President | Raquel Castañeda-López District 6 | Gabe Leland District 7 (Resigned May 3, 2021) |
| 2022 | Coleman Young II At-Large | Mary D. Waters At-Large | James Tate District 1, Council President Pro-Tem | Angela Whitfield-Calloway District 2 | Scott R. Benson District 3 | Latisha Johnson District 4 | Mary Sheffield District 5, Council President | Gabriela Santiago-Romero District 6 | Fred Durhal III District 7 |

## Salaries

Salaries for elected officials are recommended every odd-numbered year by the Detroit Elected Officials Compensation Commission. The 7-member board is appointed by the mayor and approved by the council, each member serving a 7-year term.
City council approved a recommendation by the commission in February 2023, with an immediate pay increase of 7% and 3.5% each fiscal year for the next three years. Regular City Council members will be paid $106,231 annually by July 2025, while the City Council President will be paid $111,647. Prior to 2015, increases had not happened since 2001.