Duggan, Bishop Join Chamber, Voter Advocates to Urge NO vote on Prop 1

Local, State Leaders Warn Constitutional Convention Could Hurt Economy, Risk Future Growth

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and former Michigan Senate Majority Leader and U.S. Representative Mike Bishop joined a bipartisan coalition of organizations, including the Detroit Regional Chamber, on Oct. 19 to urge Michiganders to vote NO on Proposal 1 on the Nov. 3 ballot.

“As the state’s lagest city, Detroit needs to be able to count on the delivery of essential services and investment in our neighborhoods,” Duggan said. “A Constitutional Convention would prevent planning needed to ensure consistent delivery of important programs and services. A Con-Con would create chaos and confusion, making it harder for local governments to budget responsibly, invest and deliver for their residents.”

Monday’s press conference at the Detroit Regional Chamber also featured officials from voter advocacy organization Promote the Vote and the Detroit Ecumenical Ministers Alliance (DEMA). Representatives from these groups highlighted the risks of calling a Con-Con, a measure automatically placed on the November ballot every 16 years.

From left to right: Bishop Edgar L. Vann II, Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; Rev. Horace Sheffield III, Former Michigan Senate Majority Leader and U.S. Representative Mike Bishop; Micheal Davis, Jr.

“Having served Michigan at both state and federal levels, I know how important the state constitution is to protect the rights and freedoms of Michiganders of all stripes,” Bishop said. “A complete rewrite would risk turning it into a political playground for lobbyists, wealthy special interests and political insiders. Michigan voters already have a process to make targeted constitutional changes, one issue at a time. I urge them to vote NO on Proposal 1.”

The Detroit Regional Chamber represents the business interests of the 11-county southeast Michigan region.

Promote the Vote Michigan is a coalition of partner organizations – including the NAACP Michigan, ACLU of Michigan, League of Women Voters of Michigan and others. 

“The Michigan Constitution belongs to the people, not to wealthy special interests looking for a back door to rewrite the rules,” said Micheal Davis, Jr., Executive Director for Promote the Vote Michigan. “A Con-Con would endanger hard-fought voting rights Michiganders voted to put in our state constitution to protect our access to the ballot. Voters are in charge. Let’s keep it that way. Vote NO on Proposal 1.”

The Detroit Ecumenical Ministers Alliance brings together ministers from various Christian traditions to collaborate on community service, advocacy and interfaith initiatives.

“Michiganders have fought hard for civil rights, voting rights and equality, and we have to protect those freedoms,” said Rev. Horace Sheffield III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DEMA. “We can’t risk losing rights and protections enshrined in our state constitution in a Con-Con.”

Bishop Edgar L. Vann II, Senior Pastor and Chief Executive Officer of Detroit’s Second Ebenezer Church, strongly urged Michiganders to vote NO as they have three separate times when the Constitutional Convention question has appeared on the ballot.

“A total rewrite of our constitution would open the door to unpredictable and harmful changes to our state constitution,” Vann said. “A Con-Con could create years of uncertainty and divert attention from focusing on making government work for everyday Michiganders, not opening the door to a sweeping rewrite of our state constitution.