WDET News
- Cockrel Retains Council Seat, Loses Presidency
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Nov 4, 2009Metro Desk
Ken Cockrel JuniorDetroit City Council President Ken Cockrel Junior lost his leadership role…but retained his seat…when the ballots were counted Tuesday night.
WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more…
Cockrel’s served on City Council for about a dozen years.
But the past 12 months have caused Cockrel the most upheaval.
He was automatically elevated to the Mayor’s office after the resignation of Kwame Kilpatrick…lost to Dave Bing in an unprecedented special election…then replaced former Council President Monica Conyers as she faced felony charges.
Cockrel could not hold off a challenge from former broadcaster Charles Pugh…who will now become Council President…but says he still has a job that can make a difference for Detroiters.
“You know I’m obviously disappointed. I mean I was shooting very hard to be Council President. However the main thing is this – I’m still on City Council…I’m still in the mix…and I’m in a position to be a player here in Detroit city government. I think my proven track record of leadership is gonna be needed here in the city of Detroit during the coming four years.”Cockrel says he will focus on finding new sources of revenue for a city that he says cannot simply cut its way out of a massive budget deficit.