Martha Runs For Detroit City Council

[Emerald City]

Motown legend, diva cue themes of reason, rhyme in mayoral bids

By Betty DeRamus / The Detroit News

......In case you haven't heard, Martha Reeves, known for such 1960s- era hits as "Heat Wave" and "Dancing in the Streets," has decided to run for the Detroit City Council. She announced her candidacy this week and began collecting signatures on petitions.

"For the first time in my life, I'm asking for autographs," she said on Thursday.

Reeves decided to leap into politics after getting a crash course in what can happen when city departments fail to stay in touch or in tune with each other.

Her lesson in bureaucratic boogie woogie began when she bought a tax- delinquent house at an auction and began fixing it up. According to Reeves, some people in the neighborhood complained about the house, branding it an eyesore.

So, two years after Reeves bought the house, it was torn down, and a community activist was born.

Reeves says the incident made her acutely aware of the need to inform people about city procedures and all the things that can happen to property owners. She's also concerned about the scarcity of community- owned grocery stores and parking lots and the lack of statues and monuments to Motown giants.

And she longs for a return to the days when amateur shows showcased local performers and gave young people a place to sharpen their skills and file off rough edges.

.....Does the council need a member who could tell wrongdoers they have "Nowhere to Run?" and warn citizens they're about to step into "Quicksand?"

Who knows? By the time Detroiters go to the polls this year, Eminem might be partying in the Manoogian Mansion while Aretha Franklin runs for council on a platform of respect and ribs.


Betty DeRamus' column runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Metro. Reach her at [phone] or [e-mail].

[Emerald City]

Martha does have a good head on her shoulders....I hope she gets what she wants :yes:

[Motown Honey]

:yayy: Way to make an impact Ms. Martha :yayy:

[Diamond Girl]

Talk about making a change, this should be an interesting race

[Emerald City]

More news regarding the Detroit Council If Arnie can do it then hell yes Martha can do it....at least she was born in America ;D ;D

[Emerald City]

A little more news from MAA:


Motown Legend Makes City Council Bid Official

Motown legend Martha Reeves has announced that she will run for a seat on Detroit's City Council.

Reeves, who made her fame as the lead singer for the trio known as the Vandellas, officially entered the race on Thursday.

Reeves said earlier this month that she thought the repeated disputes among City Council members were preventing progress in the city, Local 4 reported.
She said she hopes she can bring change to the city she loves.

Prizefighter To Battle For Council Seat. Joining Reeves in the race for council will be prizefighter Hilmer Kenty, Local 4 reported. Kenty announced Wednesday that he would run for a seat on City Council. Kenty was the first professional world champion boxer to train at Detroit's Kronk Gym.

He won the lightweight title in a knockout fight at Joe Louis Arena in 1980. Reeves and Kenty will face a crowded ballot, which will also include seven of theight existing council members. Sharon McPhail, who is currently on council, will run for mayor against incumbent Kwame Kilpatrick and former Deputy Mayor Freman Hendrix.

[Diamond Girl]

I really love this action...I hope she makes the grade :cheer:

[Forever Motown]

Way to go Martha! :okiagree:

[Emerald City]

Message from the Lady herself

Dear Family and Friends

I am running for CITY COUNCIL in Detroit, and am in need of donations to start campaigning. The Primary Election is to be held August 2nd. and I want to give it a good effort, therefore I need your
support.

Any checks or money orders should be addressed:

Committee to Elect Martha Reeves
And should be sent by mail to this Post office:
P.O. Box 442414
Detroit, Michigan 48244-2414

Web-site location is:
[e-mail]
Please let me hear from you and your help will be greatly appreciated.

Love and God Bless
Martha Reeves

[Motown Honey]

HitsvilleSoul said:

Message from the Lady herself

Dear Family and Friends

I am running for CITY COUNCIL in Detroit, and am in need of donations to start campaigning. The Primary Election is to be held August 2nd. and I want to give it a good effort, therefore I need your
support.

Any checks or money orders should be addressed:

Committee to Elect Martha Reeves
And should be sent by mail to this Post office:
P.O. Box 442414
Detroit, Michigan 48244-2414

Web-site location is:
[e-mail]
Please let me hear from you and your help will be greatly appreciated.

Love and God Bless
Martha Reeves

Hope they hear the call :listen:

[Emerald City]

The latest.....

Motown Star Advances in Detroit Race

Martha Reeves says the Motown Sound was all about love during the 1960s, when she was the lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas and belting out hits like "Dancing in the Street" and "Heat Wave." Reeves, 64, felt the love Tuesday when Detroit voters nominated her for the City Council.

The top 18 vote-getters earned slots on November's ballot, and she finished ninth with 27,313 votes. Nine City Council members will be elected in the fall.

"People love me everywhere. On an unofficial level, I'm an ambassador and a civil servant for Detroit. Now I'm going for the official title," Reeves said, waving her arms and jangling her gold charm bracelets.

"I could've been in L.A. and forgot about all this stuff. I could sell my property, move to Las Vegas and just play the slot machines. Why should I be bothered? Because I love Detroit. We have an obligation to hold onto its history."

Reeves still travels and performs and has her own record label and production company. She said she plans to go into the studio later this week to record a gospel CD.

"I've been dancing in the street," she said. As for the City Council post, "this is not a need for a job. It's a job that needs to be done."

Reeves said her top priority is improving police protection for the city's neighborhoods. She said thugs have prevented her from fixing up some of the 18 old buildings she has acquired since 1999.

"Junkies and crackheads have been taking down boards and even held some of the workmen at gunpoint until they ran away," she said. "The policing needs to be there, and it needs to be visible."

To spruce up the struggling city's downtown and boost tourism, she is proposing a shopping mall, a nightclub devoted to Motown's legendary sound, and a landscape dotted with tributes to the record label's biggest stars.

"One of my biggest dreams is to put up statues downtown — statues of Stevie Wonder ... and Smokey Robinson," she said. "That would be really great."

[Emerald City]

This woman is a soldier!! :yes:

And I'm all for the statues too! :word:

Go Martha!! :cheer:

[Motown Honey]

This is really a great thing :thumbsup:
Good luck, Ms Martha :goodluck:

But I am all for statues of the heavenly legends, Stevie and Smokey can move back to Detroit ;D

[Emerald City]

motown said:

But I am all for statues of the heavenly legends, Stevie and Smokey can move back to Detroit ;D

That is true :laughing: But still a great idea

Who do you think should be the first to have their statue up

[Motown Honey]

vintage78 said:

motown said:

But I am all for statues of the heavenly legends, Stevie and Smokey can move back to Detroit ;D

That is true But still a great idea

Who do you think should be the first to have their statue up

Outta those two, Stevie

But on the real, the Marvelettes :girlgroup: