Michigan Chronicle
Sam Robinson
July 8, 2025
Detroit mayoral candidates are talking the needs of small businesses and entrepreneurs at a virtual forum Wednesday hosted by the Detroit Society of Journalists and the Michigan Black Business Alliance.
The Small Business Matters event — Wednesday, July 9 is from 6-7pm — is set to include councilman Fred Durhal III, businessmen Joel Haashiim and John Barlow, nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins, attorney Todd Perkins and activist DaNetta Simpson.
Candidates will be asked about their ideas for bolstering small and mid-sized businesses during the post pandemic recovery, neighborhood investment and the role of entrepreneurship in the city’s economic future.
City Council president Mary Sheffield, Triumph pastor Solomon Kinloch are also running to be elected Detroit’s 76th mayor on Nov. 4. The primary election is Aug. 5.
Thousands of voters have already cast their absentee ballots. There around 97,000 voters who had previously requested to receive an absentee ballot for each election.
A constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2022 gave registered voters the ability to be included in a permanent absentee voter list. These voters automatically receive an absentee ballot for all future elections without needing to submit an application each time.
The city is mailing more absentee ballots than people who have voted in previous primary elections, but that doesn’t mean it will see a greater turnout. The department predicted a 13-18% turnout for the Aug. 5 primary election, or about 65,000-90,000 voters. Detroit has around 500,000 registered voters.
The forum Wednesday will be moderated by Mark Lee, the vice president of the Detroit SPJ chapter and President & CEO of the LEE Group, Michigan Black Business Alliance CEO Charity Dean and Michigan Chronicle reporter Sam Robinson.
Those interested in watching can follow this link to watch the live stream. The event will air on the Detroit PBS Youtube channel.