Very early into the race for City Clerk of Detroit, and after careful consideration, we here at Support the Dream Defenders knew just who would be the best person for that most important job. We decided that Garlin Gilchrist II was superbly qualified for the position. I am happy to report that we are not the only ones who can identify a winner in a crowded field; over the course of the campaign, praise and endorsements have been pouring in for the rising political star.
Endorsements for Garlin Gilchrist
But the most promising candidate in the city clerk’s race is 34-year-old GARLIN GILCHRIST II, a former computer engineer and veteran political organizer who returned to his native Detroit three years ago as the Duggan administration’s director of new and emerging technology.
Gilchrist’s short but impressive career has furnished him with a broad range of technical and logistical experiences that mesh neatly with the challenges the next city clerk confronts.
Today, Democracy for America (DFA) endorsed Garlin Gilchrist II in his campaign for Detroit City Clerk.
The endorsement of Gilchrist is part of the organization’s commitment to investing $500,000 in progressive municipal candidates this cycle. DFA has 1,948 members in Detroit and 59,543 total members across the state of Michigan.
Garlin is a former computer engineer and veteran political organizer who has detailed plans to revamp the recruitment and training of poll workers, reduce obstacles to voter participation, and use the internet to help get citizens engaged with their city government. He’s exactly the kind of person we need running for local office.
From the co-founder of Run for Something, Ross Morales Rocketto:
Garlin is the type of person who sees a problem in his community, gathers information about it, and then organizes to solve it. That is what he did for President Obama, MoveOn.org, and Microsoft, and that is what he’s doing in his run for Detroit City Clerk. Run for Something is excited and honored to make Garlin our first non-Virginia endorsee and we wish him and his team luck at the polls on August 8th!
Garlin’s “Effortless Voting” plan calls for the opening of new polling places so every Detroit resident can vote regardless of their transportation needs. His plan will also extend early voting and make election day and ballot information more immediately available.
Our Revolution local group, The New Progressive Black Slate, endorsed Garlin’s campaign and will be working to make him Detroit’s next city clerk ahead of the August 8, 2017 election.
From former local NAACP Director, Heaster Wheeler:
Wheeler added: “I believe the clerk’s office should be a bully pulpit for voter engagement, increased access and fighting for more protections – We don’t have that now! I believe Mr. Gilchrist will bring that new energy and deep engagement that our community deserves. I urge those voters who supported my candidacy to give Mr. Gilchrist a fresh look and extra consideration.”
Gilchrist is focused on bringing major changes to the clerk’s office including the opening of new polling places, recasting and training poll workers, and infusing the clerk’s office with new digital age and public involvement processes that allow every Detroiter to be heard, respected, and responded to.
A complete list of Garlin Gilchrist’s endorsements:
- Democracy for America
- MoveOn.org
- LaunchProgress PAC
- Teamsters
- Our Revolution
- The Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
- AFSCME
- The Collective PAC
- Operating Engineers 324
- Laborers' Local 1191
- Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee
- Working Families Party
- Michigan's Mighty 14th District Democrats
- 13th Congressional District Democratic Party
- Spanish Speaking Democrats
- Next Up Victory Fund
- Black Slate
- Northwest Detroiters On Call For Social East Side Slate
- Wayne County Democratic Black Caucus
- Run for Something
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- UNITE HERE Local 24
- Detroit Free Press
- Detroit News
(From Garlin’s FaceBook page.)
We are in the home stretch now and we need all hands on deck to get the job done. There can be no doubt that Garlin is the better candidate and with the more sophisticated set of ideas to set the Detroit electoral ship right. Let’s go!
Date of the Election
November 7, 2017.
How to Support Garlin Gilchrist II
- Donate to his campaign via ActBlue. We reached our first goal. Thank you! We reset the goal to $750. Please use our ActBlue link to help us track our progress.
- Donate via snail mail. Print the self-explanatory form or send me a kosmail or email for details.
- Support this story as you would support any Daily Kos story, including by FaceBook and Twitter. Please share on social media, whether or not you choose to donate.
- Tell Detroit voters, friends and family, about Garlin.
- Follow Garlin on Facebook and Twitter. Visit his website.
- Near or in Detroit? To volunteer, go to the campaign’s volunteering webpage, send an email or call, or contact me by kosmail or email. I haz yard signs.
- A registered voter in Detroit? What is your plan to vote? If you have questions, call the Detroit City Clerk M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (313) 876-0190.
- Phonebank for Garlin: Sign up on the campaign’s Volunteering Webpage, send an email or call, or contact me by kosmail or email.
Supporting Garlin Gilchrist is a project of Support the Dream Defenders.