in Detroit, Dave Bing is mayor-elect again, this being the 4th city election in the span of a year following the ousting of former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. 5 of 9 sitting city councilpersons are out-- one is retiring and chose not to run, one is already removed from office and awaiting sentencing on bribery(monica conyers, much-younger wife of congressman John), R&B legend Martha Reeves didn't make it past the August primary (this past summer, she called her full-time-pay council gig "a second job" in the British press while on tour-- and missing some meetings), and two incumbents didn't make the final cut after the final ballots were counted.. Charles Pugh, a former local TV anchor & radio announcer, was the top vote-getter for council, and by Detroit city charter rules, will be council President in January.. 11th hour revelations about foreclosure/eviction proceedings on Pugh's condo didn't stop locals from giving him the top vote of the 18 candidates available (whittled down from 150+ this past August).. Pugh also is the first openly gay person to be elected to office in the city.. Gary Brown, an ex-cop whose whistleblower lawsuit against the city eventually led to revelations of Kilpatrick's affair with a top aide, was the 2nd top vote getter in the council race..
