Kenneth Cockrel, Jr.

Infobox Officeholder
name = Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr.


caption =
image_size = 140x300px
order = Mayor of Detroit
term_start = September 19, 2008
term_end = Present
predecessor = Kwame Kilpatrick
successor =
birth_date = 1965
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
party = Democratic
spouse = Kimberly
profession = Journalist, Politician
alma_mater = Wayne State University
religion =


footnotes =
Residence = Manoogian Mansion

Kenneth Vern "Ken" Cockrel, Jr. [http://www.reuther.wayne.edu/collections/Cockrel,%20Ken%20%26%20Sheila.pdf Ken and Sheila Cockrel Collection at Wayne State University] ] is the mayor of Detroit. Previously, he was president of the Detroit City Council from 2005 until September 17, 2008, when he was sworn in as the mayor, with his term in office beginning September 19. The previous mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick had announced on September 4, 2008 that he would resign, causing the duties of the Mayor of Detroit to fall upon Cockrel. [ [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080917/METRO/809170461 Ken Cockrel sworn in secretly as Detroit mayor] , Detroit News, September 17, 2008.] [ [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/NEWS01/80904038 "Preparations made to swear in Cockrel as Detroit's mayor"] , "Detroit Free Press", September 4, 2008.]

Background

Cockrel, an African American and a "cum laude" graduate of Wayne State University, is a former journalist for the "Detroit Free Press" and a former Wayne County commissioner. He is the son of Kenneth Cockrel, Sr., a former Detroit city council member, and Carol Cockrel, a schoolteacher.

In 1997, Cockrel became the youngest person ever elected to the Detroit City Council. [cite news |first=Francis X. |last=Donnelly |title=His own man: Quiet conciliator leaves shadow of father, Kilpatrick |url=http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080919/METRO01/809190381/1409/METRO |work=Detroit News |publisher=Detroit News |date=2008-09-19 |accessdate=2008-09-19 ] He became council president "pro tempore" in 2001, and was elevated to council president in 2005 after receiving more votes than any other city council candidate in that year's election. He is viewed by the city's business community as a moderate consensus-builder. In his first term as a city councillor, he secured passage of an ordinance requiring the city to pay vendors and contractors for goods and services within 45 days. [ [http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/SUB/319218324 "The next in line: Cockrel not eager, but ready to be mayor if Kilpatrick leaves post"] , "Crain's Detroit Business", February 11, 2008.]

Mayor Cockrel enjoys science fiction and action films. He concluded his inaugural address with quotes from "" and "Star Trek". [ [http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/17508479/detail.html "Cockrel Jr. Sworn In As New Detroit Mayor"] , "WDIV.com", September 19, 2008.]

He and his wife Kimberly have two sons, Kenneth III and Kyle Vincent, and three daughters, Kennedy Victoria, Kendal Imani and Kayla Lanette. [ [http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/17392726/detail.html "Biographical Sketch Of Incoming Mayor"] , "WDIV.com", September 4, 2008.]

Early plans as mayor

Cockrel has stated that he plans to review the city budget, due to uncertainty around whether Kilpatrick was fully honest with the city council about the state of the city's finances, and to potentially renegotiate a pending deal with the city of Windsor, Ontario around management of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. cite web |url = http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/NEWS05/809040387 |title = Cockrel has transition team ready just in case |accessdate = 2008-09-05 |publisher = "Detroit Free Press"] The existing deal would have seen Windsor take over full management of the tunnel in exchange for a $75 million loan to Detroit cite web |url = http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=14ed4427-cd80-4c1c-bb73-4d0381d5d0d9 |title = Tunnel deal not dead, Francis says |accessdate = 2008-09-05 |publisher = "Windsor Star"] , although Cockrel has suggested that he would prefer to work out a new deal which would see the two cities maintain joint management of the tunnel. Windsor mayor Eddie Francis has stated that he is confident that he can maintain a strong working relationship with Cockrel.

Cockrel indicated in 2008 that he would run in a special election for mayor, scheduled for May 5, 2009. The winner of the special election would serve the 239 days remaining in the term of Mayor Kilpatrick. [cite web |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/us/17detroit.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1221638519-i5rhM6uCX3aiAoO86q7L6Q&oref=slogin |title = Detroit Faces $3 Million Election for an 8-Month Mayor |accessdate = 2008-09-17 |publisher = "New York Times"]

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/legislative/CityCouncil/Members/KCockrel/Cockrel_Bio.htm City Council official biography]