City Charter Candidates II

KEN COLEMAN

Ken Coleman, a lifelong Detroit resident and candidate for Detroit Charter Commission, wants to make his hometown run better for its residents.

He pledges to:

· Review, streamline and strengthen the entire City Charter

· Urge adoption of stronger ethics requirements and accountability for public officials

· (hold) Neighborhood meetings to gather input and feedback

His past employment experiences include serving as a legislative assistant to former Detroit City Councilwoman Brenda M. Scott, State Senators Irma Clark-Coleman and Buzz Thomas. He also worked as the Detroit Public Schools’ director, office of Community Relations and Governmental Relations as well as a serving as a reporter and senior editor at the Michigan Chronicle. His career began as a talk show host/producer on Martha Jean “The Queen”-owned WQBH-1400 AM.

Coleman has been fortunate to serve as a volunteer mentor and board member with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit. There, he serves as chair of a task force that is dedicated to increasing the number of Black men who mentor African-American boys.

His spirited and people-oriented campaign for Detroit Charter Commission has been endorsed by a wide range of Detroit institutions and organizations, including:

· 13th Congressional District Democratic Organization

· AFSCME Council 25

· Council of Baptist Pastors, Detroit and Vicinity

· Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce

· Eastside Slate

· Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee

· Metro Detroit AFL-CIO

· Michigan Spanish Speaking Democrats

· United Automotive Workers, Region 1A

Coleman is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wayne State University. He is married to Kim Trent. They have a one-year old child named Jackson.

TEOLA HUNTER

Teola is a native Detroiter a mother, grandmother, businesswoman and highly respected political leader in Wayne County. She attended the Detroit Public Schools, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Detroit, and a Masters in Education from Wayne State University. Clerk Hunter taught in the Detroit Public School System for 14 years.

As a result of her commitment to children and the quality of their developmental years, in 1971, she became the founder of buttons and Bows Nursery and Kindergarten. By f1974, she owned an additional nursery and preparatory school, which went to the third grade.

In 1980, Mrs. Hunter was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives where she served for 11 years, representing the 5th District. While there, she was very effective as the Chairperson of the House Social Service and Youth Committee, Chair of an ad hoc Committee on children and families, and Sub Committee of the Committee on AIDS.

As a consequence of the testimony, which she heard before the AIDS Sub Committee, which Teola P. Hunter chaired, and the visitation made to various hospitals, she established Resource Endowment Aiding Children Together (REACT) /with love. REACT is non-profit organization to help children and families infected with AIDS.

In addition, she was also a member of Legislative Council, House Oversight Committee and was appointed by the Speaker of the House to be chairperson of the Special Committee on Family and Children Services.

In 1989, Teola P. Hunter was elected by her colleagues in the legislature to the leadership position of Speaker Pro Tempore. Historically, she became the first female in Michigan to hold the position. She was re-elected to this role a second time and held this status until she resigned from the Michigan House of Representatives in January of 1992.

Following her resignation from the State House, Teola Hunter was appointed to the position of Deputy Director for Health & Community Services, by Edward H. McNamara, Wayne County Executive. She was responsible for overseeing Mental Health Service, Patient Care Management System, Youth Programs, Co-op Extension, and Child Care Fund.

On Tuesday, November 3, 1992 Teola Hunter was elected to the Office of Wayne County Clerk. She was the first female to ever hold this position in Wayne County. Her responsibilities included Clerk of the Circuit Court and Clerk of the following Boards: Wayne County Board of Commissioners, tax Allocation Board of County Canvassers, Concealed Weapon Licensing Board, and County Plat Board. She also served as Chairperson of the Election Scheduling Committee, and Secretary to the Board of Election Commissioner. The Clerk was also a statutory member of the Wayne County Apportionment Commission. Other function of the clerk was primary record keeping in nature. For example, keeping transcripts of birth and deaths, issuing marriage licenses, recording and indexing all business assumed names, co-partnership certificates, notary appointments, and discharge of military personnel.

She was re-elected to the office of Wayne County Clerk, on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. December 2000 she retired from the office of County Clerk.

In 1997 Teola Hunter became the first African American to be chosen to run as the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor for the State of Michigan.

June 2001 Teola Hunter was appointed to the position of Intern Executive Director for the Coleman A. Young Foundation. She became responsible for day-to-day leadership and governance for the CAYF office and operation, including ensuring compliance with governing agencies and implementing policy as stated by board of Trustees.

Teola P. Hunter has had the opportunity to tour several countries. In 1982, she visited the Soviet Union as a concerned citizen of peace. In 1985, she attended the Decade of Women's Conference in Nairobi Kenya and the Organization of Black Elected Legislators (NOBLE) Women's Conference in Bermuda. In January 1990, Mrs. Hunter attained a better perspective on Mid-East developments.

The year 2002 Teola Hunter began a new chapter in her life, but not a new profession. She returned to the business world and became partners in the firm Sloan and Hunter, a firm specializing in public affairs, research and education.

Teola Hunter's Civic, political, social, and religious and business involvement are broad and extremely extensive. Teola is faithful member of the Mayflower Congregation United Church of Christ and a dedicated member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Currently, she serves as a broad member and general member to several businesses, civic and professional organizations. Most importantly, she continues to focus on higher education.

She was a member of the Commission on the future of the University of Detroit Mercy, concentrating on the College of Business Administration Task Force. Her time is a devoted as a charter member of the Advisory Board of highly recognized Michigan State University, Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP), a non-partisan political project that identifies men and women of diverse backgrounds who have leadership potential and brings them together in an educational program designed to give them a solid foundation in practical politics, public policy analysis, personal leadership development and governance.

Teola has always described herself as being a public servant. She continues to demonstrate this mission by serving on various not for profit boards of directors, i.e. Don Bosco Hall, City Connect, College Board Kids Learning Center, Lewis College of Business, Charles Wright Museum of African American History (Women's Committee), and the Blue Cross Blue Shield not for profit corporate board of Directors.

FREMAN HENDRIX

Freman Hendrix stands for Integrity. . . Transparency. . . Accountability. . .Opportunity. . . and the ability to Inspire Service across many stakeholder groups.

For three decades, he has dedicated himself to getting things done for the people and families of

Southeast Michigan. Although he is currently on leave from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), while

there Hendrix focused on using his unique skill set and broad range of professional experiences to bring

positive change to his alma mater as its Chief Government Relations and Special Projects Officer.

In his two years of serving in this cabinet-level position, Hendrix worked diligently to improve EMU’s image

and strengthen its overall reputation by building bi-partisan coalitions in both Washington D.C. and Lansing,

which in 2007 resulted in $3.5 million in research grants from Washington D.C. and in 2008 brought $31.5

million from Lansing for the university’s first major state-funded academic building renovation in more

than 12 years.

Prior to this role at EMU, Hendrix served as Chief Operations Officer at a Detroit-based information

technology staffing and solutions company that saw a 35 percent increase in sales revenue and expanded

into two additional markets during his three-year tenure. As COO, Hendrix jointly oversaw the operations

of the company’s 10 U.S. branches and was responsible for key strategic business development initiatives,

as well as establishing a company-wide progressive professional development program.

As Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor during former Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer’s two terms in office,

Hendrix played a key role in Detroit’s resurgence, shaping policy and planning for 43 departments and

17,000 employees who provide essential services to nearly one million Detroit residents. His skillful

management also helped lead the City to its first balanced budget in years, and an unprecedented and

continuous upgrading of Detroit’s national bond rating.

Prior to joining the Archer administration, Hendrix held important posts in Wayne County government.

Starting as Director of Community Development, Hendrix was soon appointed Assistant County Executive

for Legislative Affairs, where he was responsible for advancing Wayne County’s interests at the state and

federal levels.

Having heard the call to public service nearly 30 years ago, Hendrix began his employment in government

in an entry level position in the city of Detroit’s Finance Department. Through extensive training and

leadership development, Hendrix achieved great success, ascending to the top of his field. A veteran of

the U.S. Navy, Hendrix earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Eastern Michigan

University.

A long-time community activist who co-founded the Rosedale-Grandmont Little League Baseball

Program for 700 boys and girls, Hendrix is a life-member of the NAACP and a member of Kappa Alpha

Psi Fraternity. He and his wife, Elaine, reside in North Rosedale Park.