Will Dave Bing be the next mayor of Detroit?

by Matt Watson on Sep 3, 2008 5:22 AM EDT

The polls think he could be. I usually avoid reading anything about the latest twists and turns in Detroit's embarrassing mayoral mess, but I'm glad I made an exception this morning. From Daniel Howes of the Detroit News:

A new poll for Detroit Renaissance, to be released today, suggests how that race might shape up: Dave Bing, the former Pistons great turned industrialist, would beat all likely comers in a special election to replace Kilpatrick. Some 72 percent of those polled believe Detroit would be better off with someone other than Kwame Kilpatrick as mayor, and 75 percent say the city charter should be amended to elect council members by district.

[...] In a head-to-head race with Kilpatrick, Bing holds a commanding 77.5 percent to 15 percent lead. In a four-way race including Kilpatrick, Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans and Kilpatrick's general counsel, Sharon McPhail, Bing polls 57.5 percent, with Evans coming in second at 17.5 percent.

[...] "The numbers I've heard are high," Bing told me Tuesday, adding that he hasn't seen the poll results. As he told me two weeks ago, he says a final decision on whether to run depends on extricating himself from his $1.3 million investment in the $58 million Watermark luxury condo development on the riverfront.

"The feedback I got was very positive" about a likely run for mayor, Bing says. "But you've got to perform. You've got to deliver results. That's what my life's been about, so that doesn't scare me."

Bing needs no introduction among Pistons fans, but it's worth pointing out to those who only know him for his Hall of Fame career that he's been just as successful in the business world as he was in the NBA.

He's been investing in Detroit real estate for years, and his automotive supply company, The Bing Group, is one of the most successful minority-owned businesses in the entire country. It's a privately-held company so exact financial numbers are hard to come by, but it had an annual revenue of $344 million in 2002 and was projected to hit $1 billion by 2008. And to top it all off, he's remained committed to keeping his business in Detroit, even when most other companies have sought greener pastures (and higher profit margins) elsewhere.

There was talk last month that Bing might throw his hat in the ring, and after seeing these polling numbers, I think it's time for me to start paying closer attention.

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Man, I just looked up Kwame Kilpatrick on Wikipedia.

Wow.

by Garrett on Sep 3, 2008 8:58 AM EDT reply actions

Can we get Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick for mayor?

by Shinons on Sep 3, 2008 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

Sounds good, I think Bing will give the city the needed “class” it has been needing for years.

by Diablo on Sep 3, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Wasn’t Sharon McPhail the one that the mayer was bonking?

by shed.girl on Sep 3, 2008 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

i am afraid that my glistening clean ideal image of dave bing would be tarnished if he were to step into the role of mayor of detroit.

dennis archer was a great man. and he didnt even want to be bothered with the mayorship after he had endured two terms.

by pistonian revolution on Sep 3, 2008 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

Just to go back to Rudi Johnson, apparently Tinker Bell stole Rudi’s duffel bags after he got cut from the Lions!

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/09/rudi_on_bell_shyster_conniving.html

by Quick Darshan on Sep 3, 2008 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

QD, holy cow that’s WEIRD sh*t that is right there.

I would NOT believe that had happened if not for the article saying it was caught on tape….

wtf….

Like Tatum Bell doesn’t have enough money to buy clothes and some CD’s?

by PistonsGirl4Life on Sep 3, 2008 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Bing wouldn’t have a chance against Kwame. Kwame would find a way to fix the election probably with the use of text messaging.

by Mike on Sep 3, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

I like how the team’s general manager was helping Johnson look for the missing bags. Big surprise – Matt Millen was no help.

by Shinons on Sep 3, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

I think Detroit needs a mayor that is not beholden to partisan interests. A business-minded person has a golden opportunity. As a major city with bargain-basement property values, there is a real opportunity for investors here.

by kevin s. on Sep 3, 2008 4:48 PM EDT reply actions

Kevin S., agreed.

by Quick Darshan on Sep 3, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

And I doubt poor Zeke would ever be named mayor to Dogpatch! Shouldn’t the 1 be the leader, not the 2? Dats Detroit…

by Ron on Sep 3, 2008 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

I saw that story, the Bell Bags.

That dude had a golden opportunity to fess up and turn it into a TO moment. Instead, he denies he did it, finds out about security cameras, then tells people he thought they were his bags. What, did he live in the Lions executive offices?

If he had done it, then when asked, instead . . .

“Yeah I did it. The Lions deserve to get their luggage stolen. Matt Millen sucks, William Clay Ford sucks, Lions suck, Rudi nothing personal. Peace!”

4 teams would offer him jobs the next day. It’s pro sport. This pro sport employs Leonard Little.

I heard he also stole money from Rudi. That’s just a cheap stupid criminal.

by Sauce1977 on Sep 4, 2008 5:39 AM EDT reply actions

Ken Cockrel Jr. takes the reins for now.

I wiki’ed him and nothing came up.

I want Roger Penske as Detroit mayor.

by Skylar on Sep 4, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Well, that’s all she wrote for Kwame Kilpatrick.

by Mike Payne on Sep 4, 2008 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

This former Detroiter LOVES the idea. Here’s my post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-tucker/nba-legend-dave-bing-will_b_127979.html

by Diane Tucker on Sep 22, 2008 11:05 PM EDT reply actions

Detroit will be a better place to be and live once Dave Bing is elected as Mayor of what was considered a beautiful, bussling city!

I lived in Detroit 1969-1985) when it was a wonderful city! The riots pulled it down a tad, but not for long.

I moved away and three years ago I revisited the city and was scared to death! Detriot needs a Dave Bing to bring it back to what it was…on any level.

Good luck Dave….!

by G C Silva on Jan 7, 2009 2:44 PM EST reply actions

Oooops! Typing to fast…“Detroit”… and its returning back to being a "bustling city via Dave Bing’s leadership… that is! Oh well!

Supporting Dave even if from afar!

by G C Silva on Jan 7, 2009 2:55 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, I was staying downtown at the Renaissance Center last August for a wedding and I’ve got to say downtown D-town is both depressing and frightening. I’m pretty sure I’d never actually seen a boarded-up skyscraper before.

It reminds me of Mad Max. I kept expecting a gang of freaks on motorcycles to come molest my girlfriend or something.

by Joel on Jan 7, 2009 3:41 PM EST reply actions

Mayor Bing, Hello, I hope you’er doing well. This is the guy in parking at the Renaissance Center. We have been talking for many years now. I want you to know that you are the only person I would want to voet for. Good luck I’ll try and do what I can to help. Looking to see you soon.

by Derek Weaver on Feb 15, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions