City Council Candidates II

Walter Cole

http://www.waltercoleforcitycouncil.weebly.com/

Walter Cole continues to lead his community of 800-homes and 33-businesses. Three years after becoming a 1st time home owner, Walter, at 38 years of age, was elected President of The Greenwich Park Association, a community where the average resident has resided in his/ her home for 41-years. Walter has helped reduce crime, increase community awareness and
inspire neighbors to get involved in neighborhood improvement.

Walter Cole majored in Chemical Engineering at both Cass Technical High School and The University of Detroit. Walter served as President of The National Society of Black Engineers
(N.S.B.E.) at The University of Detroit and was key in helping to re-establish
the organization at the University.

After graduating from Cass Technical High School, Walter worked for (6)-summers with The Michigan Department of Transportation’s (M.D.O.T.) High School Incentive Program. The purpose of MDOT’s High School incentive program was to persuade non-civil engineering students to go into civil engineering. Walter has helped in the construction of: The Lodge Freeway, I-696, I-75, and I-94.

Walter Cole has worked in the environmental field for more than 16 years. Walter worked as a Chief Chemist for Philip Services, Petro-Chem and is currently working as a Production Supervisor for The Environmental Quality Company.

Walter Cole has served as Committee Chair for The Greenwich Park Association’s Minor Home Repair grant. This grant helps low-income residents receive up to $50,000 for home improvement. Walter has also served as the Committee Chair for several of
The Greenwich Park Association's community fundraiser's.

Walter Cole is single and has no children.

ROY McCALISTER, JR.

http://www.roymccalister.org/

Roy McCalister, Jr. is the only child of Roy and the late Sarah L. McCalister. Born April 24, 1954, other than college, his military career and overseas duties, his primary residence has been in the City of Detroit.

After graduating from Mackenzie High School, he attended Easter Michigan University. He graduated from there in 1977 with a Bachelors' Degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. Subsequently, he joined the Detroit Police Department and upon graduation, he was assigned to several capacities within the department, some of which included Training Sergeant at the Detroit Metropolitan Police Academy, Internal Affairs, Commanding office of the Homicide Section and Liaison/Advisor with the Office of the Chief of Police and U.S. State Department regarding the Police Department's Holding Cells just to name a few of his duties and responsibilities over an illustrious and honorable career.

In his earlier career, Roy McCalister, Jr. has worked under several capacities as a UAW worker: Carboloy Industries in Warren, Michigan; General Motor Tech Center; Warren, Michigan; Dodge Main Plant; Hamtramck, Michigan. Laid-off from the Detroit Police Department, while working at General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), Roy did more as an advocate Field Representative, working closely with and assisting customers with maintaining their vehicles and repairing their credit than being a repossession man. It was work he found immensely rewarding and work which added to his skills in helping people through difficult circumstances.

In 1981, Roy enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in South Korea and served as an Administrative Specialist. During that time he completed graduate studies, obtaining a Master's Degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. This added to his skills and ability to assist others.

In May 1985, Roy returned home and went back to the Detroit Police Department. He continued to advance in rank as well as transferring to other sections throughout the department to learn the inner workings of the Detroit Police Department, and enhance his career in law enforcement.

In March 2003, now a member of the active United States Army Reserves, Roy was activated and mobilized back to active duty for “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. As a Special Agent & Warrant Officer IV with the Criminal Investigative Division (CID), Roy served in Baghdad, Iraq April 2003-April 2004 as an investigator, liaison/advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice; interview some of the Saddam Hussein's top aides.

Upon return from active duty, From August 2004 to January 2005, Roy was the commanding officer of Homicide Section, where during his tenure he increased the Homicide closure rate by 6%.

Concerned with the issues and the state of affairs in Detroit, In 2005 Roy ran a strong campaign for a seat on Detroit City Council. In the Primary he finished 19th; with Council President Mary Ann McHaffey declaring not to seek another term on Detroit City Council, this should have elevated Roy to the 18th position and allowed him to continue on into the General election. This process did not proceed, but this did not deter Roy from continuing to want a better Detroit. He continued into the General Election as a write-in-Candidate. Although the obstacle continued to straiten his path, Roy finished strong as a write-in-candidate, gaining the top vote over all write-in-candidates.

In June 2006, Roy retired from the Detroit Police Department; among the number of awards and decorations, Roy received Certificates of Perfect Attendance 1993 - 2004.

In June 2006 he returned to Iraq, sharing his experience training, advising and mentoring with Iraqi Police & Security forces, liaison with Iraqi government officials, local Iraq elected officials, upper ranking military officials, civilians (both U..S. and foreign) and officials with the U. S. Justice Department. Roy attained the position of Regional Commander, Region 3, Northern Province of Iraq interacting with both Southern Iraq and Northern Kurdish Government Officials. Roy's objective was to train Iraq security forces allowing the Iraq government independency to secure their provinces, allowing our men and women in uniform to return home, and relinquish the burden on U.S. tax payers spending millions of dollars in the efforts of such a campaign.

The failure of Detroit's elected officials, September 2008 Roy returned to Detroit, to reestablish his campaign, to serve the people and the City of Detroit; bring Integrity, Professionalism and Accountability back to Detroit's elected officials and vision to move Detroit back to World Class status.

Roy has taught the ACT College entrance examination in the Detroit Public Schools and currently teaches Political Science and Criminal Justice Courses at ITT-Tech Institute in Troy, Michigan. Roy continues his outreach in the community by conducting mentorship speeches elementary - senior Detroit Public Schools. throughout; his continued involvement with community groups and organizations throughout Detroit establishes his community awareness, concern for Detroiters and a pro-active approach for Detroit City Council.

Married 16 years to the love of his life Polly Ann, with 2 sons, Douglas in the Air Force, stationed in Japan, who has provide Roy with a daughter-in-law and new granddaughter and Timothy, a member of Detroit Police Department. A longtime advocate for the people, Roy McCalister, Jr., continues to make an impact within the Detroit community. His memberships include Cedar Christian Church, where he is a Deacon, Easter Michigan University National and Black Alumni Associations, NAACP, National Black Officers Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Free & Accepted Masons, Michigan Democratic Party, AARP and many others.

Rev. André L. Spivey
http://www.spiveyfordetroit.com/

Rev. André L. Spivey, a native of Detroit, Michigan is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where he received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York where he received the Master of Divinity Degree and is currently completing his thesis for a Master of Science Degree in Administration at Central Michigan University. Additionally, Rev. Spivey has recently completed a three-year Sustaining Pastor Excellence fellowship through the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit sponsored by the Lily Foundation.

Rev. Spivey has been married for nine years to Shema Spivey, who is a Chemical Engineer with Delphi and they have two children, a son André II who is a student in the Detroit Public Schools at Bates Academy and a daughter Kendall who is in Pre-K at A Step Ahead Preparatory Academy.

Rev. Spivey is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, having been ordained in the Michigan Annual Conference in 1997. He has served in the A.M.E. Church in Southern Africa in the Eighteenth Episcopal District, as the first person to participate in the Sojourner’s Program sponsored by the Women’s Missionary Society of the A.M.E. Church. He has represented the A.M.E. Church as a Youth Steward and has served on the Advisory Group on Church and Ecumenical Relations and other committees for the World Council of Churches, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Rev. Spivey has also served as a delegate the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church. He has traveled extensively throughout the world and has preached to over 32 nationalities.

Rev. André L. Spivey has served in the Christian ministry for sixteen years and as a pastor for nine years. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church near downtown Detroit where the Lord is using him in a powerful way to grow and serve the church and community. New ministries have been embraced, others have been revived and a fresh spirit of enthusiasm for ministry has ignited in the St. Paul congregation. New members have joined under this ministry and the church continues to make a powerful impact in the community. Prior to his assignment there, Rev. Spivey served as the pastor of Pleasant Valley Rev. André L. Spivey Church in Belleville and Saunders Memorial A.M.E. Church in Detroit. He also serves as the secretary of the Michigan Annual Conference Board of Examiners of the A.M.E. Church, which trains new ministers and sits on the Michigan Annual Conference Board of Trustees, which oversees all A.M.E. properties in the state of Michigan.

Rev. Spivey has served on the Detroit School Board Transition Team having been appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm and is currently serving a five year term on the Wayne County Economic Development Corporation and the Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, having been appointed by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. He has received numerous awards and honors such as being listed in the 2006 Who’s Who in Black Detroit – Inaugural Edition.

Rev. André L. Spivey is involved in several community and civic organizations including serving on the boards of the International Detroit Black Expo and the Detroit Omega Foundation (DOFI). He also holds memberships and is active in the Detroit Chapter - Morehouse College Alumni Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, UNCF, Young Democrats of America, Young Democrats of Michigan, Michigan Democratic Future, Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (M.O.S.E.S.) and the NAACP.