There are 15 candidates, although the top contenders are former Detroit Medical Center chief executive officer Mike Duggan and Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. According to a Detroit Free Press/WXYZ-TV poll released in late September, Mr. Duggan is leading Mr. Napoleon 2 to 1 among voters. While Duggan is white and Napoleon is black, 80 percent of the voters in this historically black-majority city say race is not a factor.
The election is critical for unions, who face deep cuts in pensions and benefits. Most unions support Napoleon, including the city’s largest, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25. Duggan, meanwhile is attracting the support of most top business leaders.
