Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer announced early Tuesday he will not run for re-election in 2002.
“I love this city. I love our citizens, and I really enjoyed the opportunity and experience of being mayor. But I also realize that I have no life,” Archer, 59, said at a press conference Tuesday.
He said his wife, Trudy, helped him reach the decision.
“We couldn’t remember the last time we went to the movies together,” Archer said. “We have not had the opportunity to have the kind of family life that we wanted.”
The announcement surprised many politicians, but not Lansing Mayor David Hollister, who said he understands Archer’s decision to leave the political arena to spend time with his family.
“What he gains is control of his personal life, that’s what you pay for being in the public eye,” he said. “When you’re an attorney in the private sector you can practice with less public pressure.”
Had he decided to run again, Archer, a former Michigan Supreme Court justice, would have faced tough questions about the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation into the Detroit Police Department, which has been accused of using excessive force and of arresting witnesses in homicide investigations.
Among those who may step up to fill the position is House Democratic Leader Kwame Kilpatrick, D-Detroit. Kilpatrick was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Jamaine Dickens, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party, said Kilpatrick is interested in running for mayor, but would like to talk with his wife, who is currently out of town.
“Detroit is in need of new leadership, new vision, and he certainly believes he can provide that leadership,” Dickens said.
Archer has also worked with MSU President M. Peter McPherson on several child, youth and family outreach programs in Detroit.
“Archer has been a friend to Michigan State,” McPherson said. “He’s very comfortable to work with.”
McPherson said MSU will work to keep good relations with Detroit despite Archer’s absence, in part because of the number of students MSU draws from the city.
“We have a large number of students from Detroit - we will seek to maintain close ties with Detroit,” he said.
Mark Grebner, a political analyst for East Lansing-based Practical Political Consulting, 220 Albert Ave., and an Ingham County commissioner, said Archer has done a good job improving Detroit and working with its suburbs, but the battle is far from over.
“I think he’s put in eight years in a struggle that will take 20 years,” he said.
Grebner said Archer faced a monstrous task when he was elected Detroit’s mayor in 1993.
“He was left an administration that was completely in shambles,” he said. “Dennis Archer was a tremendous breath of fresh air.”
Grebner said he wouldn’t be surprised if Archer decided to run for the U.S. Senate after current Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, retires.
Reflecting on Archer’s career as mayor, Hollister, who serves with Archer on the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors, said much was accomplished because of hard work and a positive attitude.
“He’s very smart, he’s very thoughtful, he’s very goal oriented.” he said. “He had a very strategic plan to work with the suburbs in Detroit.”
