DETROIT — This week, mayoral candidates Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan squared off in public debates to discuss which of their campaign platforms would best be suited to turn around Detroit’s fragile government, neighborhoods and economy.

Words got heated between the two at the first debate, which took place on Sunday, October 22. While the two candidates stuck to their own campaign plans and initiatives, they wasted no time locking horns. 

Duggan took the first jab, by asking the current Wayne County Sheriff why he hasn’t done more to tackle crime in Detroit; a city that, in recent years, has seen escalating murder rates. 

“You’ve got a crime plan, but you’ve been sheriff for four years. What have you done to make the City safer?” Duggan asked.

Napoleon responded in retaliation to that comment during his closing argument.

“While he was sleeping in Livonia, I put on a bullet-proof vest, a 40-caliber glock and patrolled the City. While he was sleeping, we were arresting murderers, carjackers and break-in men,” Napoleon said. 

Napoleon added that Duggan’s lack of experience in law makes him inadequate as a mayoral candidate. “I’ve never heard of people fighting crime from behind a desk. He’s not equipped to tell anyone about crime fighting.”

Duggan also took a jab at the Wayne County Jail project, spearheaded by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. In recent months, it was revealed that the County had planned to look into alternative routes for the planned project, after already spending close to $100 million at the original site.

The candidates were more civil during their second meeting at the Detroit Economic Club on Wednesday, October 23.

Duggan claimed that change in the City needs to start by drawing in more business opportunities, while Napoleon explained that the most important factor would be neighborhood revitalization. 

Both candidates stressed that they oppose Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr’s control of City government. Duggan also revealed that he had rejected a request two years ago from the Snyder administration to become a possible EM candidate for the City.

Napoleon, however, pointed out some inconsistencies with those statements. 

“If he was asked and he said no, why are they still talking to him?” Napoleon said, referring to February emails from State officials, showing he opposed the naming of an emergency manager until after the November elections. “Why would they consult with a guy who said he wasn’t interested in the job?”

Napoleon says he is confident that he will win the race, as voters are going to, most likely, elect a candidate who has a proven relationship with the City.

“At the end of the day, Detroiters are going to vote for a mayor they know and a mayor they can trust.” Napoleon said.

Outside of the debate, both candidates have unveiled new plans in recent weeks that they believe would help turn the City around. 

Duggan has come up with a 10-point plan, which includes creating a Department of Neighborhoods and consolidating 14 agencies into one super department that would deal with code enforcement, vacant lots, dangerous building demolition and federal block grant funds. 

Napoleon, on the other hand, has promised to reduce crime in the City by 50 percent. This month, he unveiled his plan to transform neighborhoods “one square mile at a time,” by forming public-private partnerships for the creation of public safety service centers. He has also campaigned to put one police officer on patrol in every square mile of Detroit.

The Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce and WXYZ-TV will host the final debate between Detroit mayoral candidates Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The debate takes place exactly one week before Detroiters go to the polls to choose their next mayor.