Detroit Mayoral Candidates Trade Political Punches in Final Debate

It was last call to hit 'em where it hurts for Detroit mayoral candidates Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan in yesterday's final debate on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013 – hosted by WXYZ Channel 7 and held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

As the Nov. 5 election approaches, we learned a few new things from the political candidates: Napoleon thinks Duggan's proclaimed Detroit Medical Center hospital turnaround is a "fallacy." And Duggan, aware of his lead in the mayoral race, is not afraid to do a little pre-victory dance. The Detroit News reported Duggan calling Napoleon "desperate" after the debate because his campaign is not going as planned.

Another of the more interesting tidbits that came after the debate was the possibility of the two candidates working more closely together in the future. "Duggan did not rule out bringing Napoleon on board as part of his administration if elected mayor," Kirk Pinho of Crain's Detroit Business reports. "I posed that question to the former DMC president and CEO during a media scrum after the debate."

Pinho shares that Duggan responded to the question by saying, "We haven't talked about it, so we'll see." Duggan continued, reflecting on the pair's history and future: "He and I have always had a good relationship, and in eight days we're going to get along great. We always have before."

Duggan and Napoleon's ability to get along may be explained by the number of things they have in common. The two candidates exclusively shared with BLAC Detroit their love of Sanders hot fudge sundaes and the film The Godfather.

We are seven days shy of having a new mayor when Detroiters take to the polls to vote on Nov. 5. As of now, WXYZ.com reports Duggan has a 2-to-1 lead over Napoleon among Detroit voters.

Want to learn where the candidates side on important issues? Read the BLAC Detroit exclusive interview with Mike Duggan and our interview with Benny Napoleon.

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