NORTON SHORES – State Representative Mary Valentine (D-Norton Shores) today called on Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to resign, saying his legal troubles are a distraction and hurting job growth and economic development not just in Detroit but across the state.
"I join the growing group of people in Detroit, and across the state and country who have called for Mayor Kilpatrick to resign," Valentine said. "The recent events involving Mayor Kilpatrick jeopardize our work to attract good-paying jobs and major investors to Michigan. His resignation will help put the interests of Detroit, the region and Michigan first."
Kilpatrick has been mired in mounting legal troubles, including violating bail conditions for a perjury case against him and a former aide and facing felony charges for allegedly assaulting a sheriff's deputy.
Faith leaders, elected officials, newspapers and everyday citizens have called for Kilpatrick to step aside as mayor of Detroit, including the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit andVicinity, and the influential black newsweekly, the Michigan Chronicle.
"Our state is in the national news for all the wrong reasons," Valentine said. "We must focus on getting our economy back on track and creating jobs for our workers now. We have tremendous potential for economic development, but we can no longer afford to have Kwame Kilpatrick serve as mayor of Detroit and a roadblock to our economic recovery."