DETROIT
-- After the primary election for Detroit City Council unveiled the
eighteen candidates voters will choose from in November, Detroit's
Independent Retailers' Association (IRA) invited all non-incumbent
candidates to sit down and share their platforms and ideas with the
organization. IRA then conducted a series of interviews with all those
who responded.
IRA
had certain criteria the contenders needed to meet. The group wanted to
engage those candidates face-to-face to determine who met that criteria.
"We
were looking for candidates who had a stronger skill set than what
we've had in the past and who were seasoned enough to understand how to
work together --and with the administration-- for the good of the
city," said IRA founding member, Rufus Bartell.
In
the process, IRA members were pleased to discover they faced the
unexpected challenge of having too many, rather than too few, qualified
and promising contenders to choose from.
"We
wanted candidates who could think creatively, 'outside the box,' to
tackle Detroit's problems and bring the innovative vision that would
almost guarantee effective change," added co-founder Tony Stovall.
"We want change. We want winners. The interviews helped us identify who we felt could provide that for the city," Stovall said.
After
the interviews IRA members discussed each candidate and used the
democratic process to reach group consensus on nine candidates to
support and recommend for the general election. As a result, the
Independent Retailers' Association supports the following candidates
for Detroit City Council: ~ Gary Brown
~ Kenneth Cockrell, Jr.
~ David Cross
~ Jai Lee Dearing
~ Lisa Howze
~ Saunteel Jenkins
~ Charles Pugh
~ James Tate
~ Alberta Tinsley-Talabi
"Most importantly, we were looking for candidates who understood the connection between small business development and sustainability in the city, to the overall economic survival and prosperity, of the city," explained IRA co-founder, Cal Williams.
"After
talking with and evaluating the candidates in-depth, we believe we've
selected those who have that understanding," he concluded.
Formed
in 2006, according to the group's web site; "IRA is established
Detroit-area business professionals who have joined forces to
strengthen individual business by building mutual influence in the
marketplace." Part of the association's collective mission is an
ongoing objective to set trends and standards in the retail industry.
IRA
did not solicit or conduct interviews with incumbents because the
incumbents' track-records were public and common knowledge. IRA is
supporting two of them.
To contact the Independent Retailers' Association:
call: 313.309.3287, visit: http://www.IRAdetroit.com, e-mail: iradetroit@gmail.com
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