Photo: David Rodriguez Munoz ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
July 21, 2025 ~ In a mayoral race dominated by name recognition and political legacy, Saunteel Jenkins is betting that experience, empathy, and a bold housing plan can cut through the noise—and the polls.
Trailing frontrunner Mary Sheffield by 30 points in recent polls, the former Detroit City Council President is leaning into her executive chops and personal story to stand out in a crowded nine-candidate field. “I’ve got more than 10 years of legislative experience and more than 10 years as a CEO,” Jenkins said on 760 WJR’s “‘JR Morning.” “That’s what the mayor’s job is—CEO of the city.”
PODCAST:
July 21, 2025 ~ Detroit mayoral candidate Saunteel Jenkins joins “‘JR Morning” to talk housing, public safety, and why she believes her mix of legislative and executive experience makes her the city’s next CEO.
(CONTINUED) Jenkins says that her campaign is laser-focused on two of Detroit’s most urgent issues: housing and public safety. With the city still short 46,000 affordable housing units, Jenkins proposes using housing bonds—an approach proven in cities like San Francisco and Chicago—to build homes for everyone, from new grads to retirees. “Affordability means different things to different people,” she said. “We need options at every stage of life.”
On crime, Jenkins speaks from painful experience. Her brother was killed by gun violence, and she’s made expanding community violence intervention (CVI) programs a cornerstone of her platform. One of these programs is the city’s ShotStoppers initiative, which has reported reductions in violent crime ranging from 37% to 83% in targeted neighborhoods. “If I just buried my four-year-old baby, I don’t really care what your statistics say,” Jenkins said. “We need relentless, common-sense solutions.”
She’s also had to navigate scrutiny. In 2015, after voting to approve city funding for The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), Jenkins became its CEO within a year—prompting the ethics board to cite a violation of Detroit’s “cooling-off” policy. Jenkins says she consulted city officials beforehand and believed the move was allowed. She describes the situation as a policy gray area, not an ethical lapse.
During her decade at THAW, Jenkins helped provide utility assistance to thousands of Detroit families each year, building a reputation as a hands-on leader with deep community ties.
With the August 5 primary set to narrow the field to just two finalists, Jenkins is racing to convince Detroit voters that she’s ready to lead—and ready to win.
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Want to learn more about Saunteel Jenkins and the eight others who are vying for the keys to City Hall? Check out our special WJR.com feature, “The Detroit Nine,” your inside track to the candidates, their plans, and what’s really at stake this election.
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