Benny Napoleon, sheriff of Wayne County, Michigan’s most populated county, endorsed presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) because he supposedly is the best one to address race relations, according to a story by Detroit Metro Times.
“He understands the problems facing urban communities and communities of color, and is ready to lead with compassion and strength. I believe that the Democratic Party should nominate Cory, because he is just the candidate we need to energize voters in places like Detroit, who are essential to winning back the White House in 2020,” Napoleon told the publication.
Booker, whose mother was born in Detroit, has only 3 percent support according to Morning Consult’s polling. President Donald Trump won Michigan by less than one percentage point in 2016, so Democrats are eyeing the state. The primary is March 10.
Even while Napoleon is making news with his race-based endorsement, earlier this year he made news in a lawsuit from a pregnant sergeant working for his department.
Sgt. Tanicka Jones of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office sued over the department allegedly not making accommodations for her at-risk pregnancy, according to a story in March by WXYZ.
She asked for light-duty at the jail during her pregnancy. She was given a written statement that the office does not make accommodations to pregnant officers, the station said.
Jones said that her goal is that for women who come after her, that they’ll be treated fairly within the department.
Some political commentators say Trump can carry battleground states like Michigan once again, though there is a need to connect more with undecided voters.
Earlier this month on the Battleground State Report with Steve Gill, Michael Patrick Leahy and Doug Kellett – a one-hour radio show from Star News Digital Media – Gill and Leahy talked about the success of the Trump rallies that continue to mobilize his base. They were concerned, however, about whether or not these rallies could help move undecided voters to the voting booths, The Michigan Star reported.
The men suggested Trump take a more emotional approach and go to the battleground states and show people the positive changes he has made in people’s lives.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Benny Napoleon” by Benny Napoleon. Photo “Cory Booker” by Senate Democrats. CC BY 2.0.
