Detroit Deserves a Leader Who Will Actually Represent its Voters - Not One Who's Always Absent or Out of Touch.
As Detroit prepares to cast their votes for the City Council in the upcoming 2025 election, one candidate stands out for her egregious lack of representation: Karen Whitsett. Her actions as a State Representative have made it clear that she's not just absent from policy discussions but has no interest in advocating for her district's needs.
Whitsett's own words reveal her disdain for policy work, stating, "I don’t do a whole lot of policy. That’s not really my thing." This is particularly concerning in a city like Detroit where residents face complex issues such as economic recovery, affordable housing, and public safety. A representative who claims to be uninterested in policy-making should not be trusted with the future of a vibrant city like Detroit.
Furthermore, Whitsett has shown up to work only 15 times out of 66 House session days this year, missing over 77% of sessions in Lansing. Her lack of attendance was particularly egregious during an all-night session for the passage of the annual budget. This absence not only reflects poorly on her commitment but also undermines her ability to effectively represent Detroit's residents.
Moreover, Whitsett has made headlines by walking out of the Michigan House of Representatives during a lame-duck session, preventing Democrats from passing critical legislation that would have raised the minimum wage and expanded paid sick leave. Her actions were seen as a direct insult to her constituents, many of whom rely on such policies to support their families.
In addition, Whitsett has consistently voted against her community's interests. She helped pass an omnibus budget spending bill that cut Medicaid funding by $4.8 billion, defunded SNAP by over $333 million, and slashed environmental programs that keep Detroit's air safe and water clean. Her votes on bills like House Bill 4001 also put the needs of low-income workers at risk, further solidifying her lack of representation.
Detroit deserves a City Council member who actively works to improve the lives of its residents, not one who is absent or out of touch with their community's priorities. The city needs leaders who are knowledgeable, accountable, and ready to take on difficult issues and fight for the people who live there. Karen Whitsett's record makes her an unfit candidate for this position.
It's time for a change in District 7. Voters want someone who understands the responsibility of their office, the power of policy, and the impact their leadership has on daily life. They deserve a representative who will stand with everyday people, champion working-class families, protect healthcare access, ensure affordable neighborhoods, defend immigrant communities, and prioritize resources towards public safety.
Karen Whitsett's record shows she is not up to the task.
As Detroit prepares to cast their votes for the City Council in the upcoming 2025 election, one candidate stands out for her egregious lack of representation: Karen Whitsett. Her actions as a State Representative have made it clear that she's not just absent from policy discussions but has no interest in advocating for her district's needs.
Whitsett's own words reveal her disdain for policy work, stating, "I don’t do a whole lot of policy. That’s not really my thing." This is particularly concerning in a city like Detroit where residents face complex issues such as economic recovery, affordable housing, and public safety. A representative who claims to be uninterested in policy-making should not be trusted with the future of a vibrant city like Detroit.
Furthermore, Whitsett has shown up to work only 15 times out of 66 House session days this year, missing over 77% of sessions in Lansing. Her lack of attendance was particularly egregious during an all-night session for the passage of the annual budget. This absence not only reflects poorly on her commitment but also undermines her ability to effectively represent Detroit's residents.
Moreover, Whitsett has made headlines by walking out of the Michigan House of Representatives during a lame-duck session, preventing Democrats from passing critical legislation that would have raised the minimum wage and expanded paid sick leave. Her actions were seen as a direct insult to her constituents, many of whom rely on such policies to support their families.
In addition, Whitsett has consistently voted against her community's interests. She helped pass an omnibus budget spending bill that cut Medicaid funding by $4.8 billion, defunded SNAP by over $333 million, and slashed environmental programs that keep Detroit's air safe and water clean. Her votes on bills like House Bill 4001 also put the needs of low-income workers at risk, further solidifying her lack of representation.
Detroit deserves a City Council member who actively works to improve the lives of its residents, not one who is absent or out of touch with their community's priorities. The city needs leaders who are knowledgeable, accountable, and ready to take on difficult issues and fight for the people who live there. Karen Whitsett's record makes her an unfit candidate for this position.
It's time for a change in District 7. Voters want someone who understands the responsibility of their office, the power of policy, and the impact their leadership has on daily life. They deserve a representative who will stand with everyday people, champion working-class families, protect healthcare access, ensure affordable neighborhoods, defend immigrant communities, and prioritize resources towards public safety.
Karen Whitsett's record shows she is not up to the task.
... Karen Whitsett seems like a major letdown for the community. I mean, who wants a rep who barely attends sessions & makes decisions that hurt low-income families? It's time for someone who actually cares about their constituents' lives and is willing to fight for what's right. We need leaders who are all in, not one who's just going through the motions 
Detroit deserves better!
I'm so confused about this whole thing...aren't politicians supposed to care about their district? It seems like Karen Whitsett just doesn't get it 
. 15 out of 66 House session days missing? That's crazy! 
And walking out on a lame-duck session? What a bummer for her constituents 
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. And what really gets my goat is that she walked out on a lame-duck session to block legislation that could've helped so many families. It's like she's more worried about being right than doing what's right for the people 
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u guys gotta stay vigilant in the 2025 election!!! detroit deserves so much better than karen whitsett 
someone who'll fight for our rights & prioritize our needs. let's make sure to hold ourselves & each other accountable for the change we want to see in detroit 
just read about this detroit city council candidate karen whitsett and omg her track record is sketchy at best 
77% of sessions missed in lansing alone? that's like, a total absence 
and then she has the nerve to claim she doesn't do policy lol 
meanwhile detroit needs someone who actually cares about affordable housing public safety and economic recovery 
ugh, what's up with these politicians in Detroit? I mean, I get it, nobody's perfect, but Karen Whitsett's track record is straight out of a bad sitcom 
. She's always absent or just doesn't care about her constituents' problems. Like, who does that? 
. Detroit needs someone who's gonna fight for them, not just show up half the time and collect a paycheck 
. I'm all for some good old-fashioned change in District 7 
, and Whitsett's record screams "out of touch" 
– she's been MIA from policy discussions and has shown up less than 25% of the time to actual sessions 
What kind of rep doesn't even try? 
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who needs someone who doesn't even show up to work most of the time let alone care about their constituents' issues? anyway detroit deserves so much better than this we need leaders who actually listen and advocate for the people not just collect a paycheck 
Karen Whitsett is literally the ultimate example of why Detroit needs a new leader ASAP 
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I'm so over politicians like Karen Whitsett who seem more interested in collecting a paycheck than serving their constituents 
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15 times in 66 session days? that's like showing up to a party and leaving after one hour 
. and don't even get me started on that lame-duck session where she WALKED OUT ON HER CONSTITUENTS