Detroit News - Waters Makes Trust Key Campaign Issue

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Detroit News - Waters Makes Trust Key Campaign Issue

Mary Waters says her colleagues in the state Legislature called her "Quiet Storm" because she's a woman of few words.

Instead of a lot of rhetoric, Waters said she's going to roll up her sleeves and get to work if she's given the opportunity to represent the 13th Congressional District.

"I want (constituents) to understand they are not going to hear a whole lot of talking from me," Waters said. "Sometimes we talk too much as elected officials and we don't get enough done. When other people are talking, I'm busy working."

Waters, 52, is the leading challenger in a bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, in Tuesday's primary. The winner of the 13th District race will be the heavy favorite against Republican Edward Gubics in November.

State Sen. Martha Scott, who has more than 30 years in various levels of public service, also is in the race. A poll released Tuesday by The Detroit News and its reporting partner, WXYZ-Action News, showed Cheeks Kilpatrick with a slim lead -- 31 percent, to Waters' 26 percent and Scott's 22 percent.

Cheeks Kilpatrick heads the 43-member Congressional Black Caucus and sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. A six-term House member, she was first elected in 1996 when she upset incumbent Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins in the Democratic primary. No one -- no Democrat, no Republican -- was brave enough to take her on in 2006.

This time around, Waters didn't back down from the challenge of trying to unseat Cheeks Kilpatrick, who has a significantly larger war chest -- more than $750,000 to Waters' $16,000 and Scott's undisclosed amount of money -- and has used her clout in Washington to help with her campaign.
Rep. Kilpatrick puts up fight

But Cheeks Kilpatrick's campaign manager, Bill McConico, said with all of the problems facing the nation, now is not the time for someone with little experience.

If Waters wins, McConico says, the district will suffer because it will take a rookie too long to learn the system in Congress.

"For something else, Mary may be qualified," McConico said. "We need a person that has seniority in the legislature and a person that already has the respect of our colleagues."

Waters' blunt television ads are critical of the Kilpatrick family, referring to the felony perjury charges pending against the congresswoman's son, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

At issue, Waters says, are character and trust -- as well as Detroit's dismal high school graduation rate, the city's high jobless rate (8.9 percent), energy costs and making college affordable for students and their parents.

"Trust in elected officials is at an all-time low, an all-time low. We've got to do better," said Waters, who is endorsed by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and took an unpaid leave from her job in the Government and Community Relations unit of the prosecutor's office to run for Congress.

"All you have to do is drive up Grand River and it doesn't need an expert to tell you something is wrong and it requires" attention, said Chris Onolemhemhed, 44, who met Waters on Wednesday afternoon as she was canvassing the neighborhood door-to-door.

Onolemhemhed said he was impressed with Waters' message about issues that affect his neighborhood near Grand River and Warren, including abandoned properties, education, city services and high taxes.

Waters "presents a change from the past. We know we can do better. This isn't something that started yesterday."
Waters fell in love with city

Born in Greenville, Ala., Waters said she was groomed for political life by learning the lessons of humility and hard work by strict parents. She said she and her eight siblings earned spending money by working in cotton and tobacco fields.

Waters moved to Detroit with her parents in 1968. Her family returned to Alabama, but she loved Detroit so much she decided to return after finishing high school. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

"I can appreciate nothing in life is free. You have to work hard for it," Waters said.

She was a senior analyst at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan for more than 20 years before joining Detroit's charter revision commission in the early 1990s. She was elected to the state House seven years later.

In her three terms as a state legislator, Waters said she was the only member from Detroit to have a perfect voting record, but the House clerk could not confirm its validity because the House doesn't keep attendance records.

Committee assignments during her terms include judiciary, regulatory reform and governmental operations. Her most significant piece of legislation was a bill making it a felony for junk dealers to knowingly buy or sell stolen scrap metal. It was enacted in 2006.

In 2004, she was elected the House Democratic floor leader at the same time Dianne Byrum was elected House Democratic leader.

"She's a smart lady and is a hard worker," said state Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, who was the assistant Democratic leader during Waters' second term as floor leader. Meisner is not endorsing Waters and said he also thinks highly of Scott.

Waters "is somebody who is often underestimated. She got the No. 2 spot in the House (Democratic) caucus, which is very difficult to do. She does things a little differently (in terms of her style) and it's had some effect."
Scott: 'I have not changed'

While she's trailing Cheeks Kilpatrick and Waters, Scott isn't out of the race. Born in South Carolina, she graduated from Highland Park High School. Before her election to the Senate, she was on the Wayne County Civil Service Commission and Wayne County Commission, and was mayor of Highland Park and a state representative.

She holds town hall meetings and coffee sessions every Monday morning. Her agenda includes attacking high insurance rates and health initiatives.

"I have not changed," Scott said.

Scott is making a last-minute push to reach voters by rolling out television and radio ads that are set to begin running today.

"It's about what I do every day and what I've done for 30 years," Scott said. "It's not about slamming anyone. It's about helping people make a difference in their lives. I'm going to win the race."

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