High-profile attorney Todd Perkins announced Tuesday that he’s officially running for mayor of Detroit.
Perkins is at least the sixth candidate for mayor after Mike Duggan announced in November that he wasn’t seeking a fourth term.
Perkins said he made the decision after creating an exploratory committee to assess “the feasibility” of a campaign.
“I am excited and compelled to pursue this opportunity because Detroit deserves strong and experienced leadership,” Perkins said in a statement. “The committee and my community engagement helped us better understand the issues, identify unmet promises, and define unfulfilled commitments that matter most and continue to impact our community. It will also help to define and determine the best path forward.”
Perkins, of Perkins Law Group, has taken on high-profile cases, especially those in which public officials are accused of wrongdoing. He represented 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King, who faced allegations of violating a teenager’s rights after ordering her to be handcuffed for dozing off during a courtroom field trip. Perkins also represented Tony Saunders II, the former Wayne County chief financial official accused of assaulting his wife at their home, and Detroit cop Alonzo Jones, who was convicted of taking bribes from the towing industry and an undercover federal agent.
Another of Perkins’s clients was former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley, who faced criminal charges for his alleged involvement in the city’s water crisis.
Perkins also represented journalist Charlie LeDuff after he was accused of assaulting his wife last year.
Other mayoral candidates who have formed committees include City Council President Mary Sheffield, former Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, Councilman Fred Durhal III, and businessman Joel Haashiim.
