The Livingston County Democratic Party is hosting former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the historic Livingston County Courthouse in downtown Howell.
Archer will speak on the interrelations between Michigan's urban, suburban and rural areas, and it will include coffee and dessert. Archer has had a storied and varied career that has touched every aspect of public life, as well as a successful career in the private sector. It is that background and success that has many people mentioning his name as the next Democratic Governor of Michigan.
Archer was born in Detroit but raised in poverty in rural Cassopolis. He taught learning-disabled children in Detroit Public Schools for fives years until he earned his law degree from the Detroit College of Law, attending classes at night.
He was a partner in a Detroit law firm, and he was also active in Democratic politics, directing successful campaigns from Detroit City Clerk to U.S. Congress. In addition to practicing law, Archer was also an associate professor at Detroit College of Law and an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School.
Archer was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1985, serving until 1993, and he was named the "most respected judge in Michigan" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He stepped down to run for the Mayor of Detroit to succeed legendary Mayor Coleman Young, and in 1993 he won with 57 percent of the vote in a bitter campaign. He served two terms until 2001. Archer helped improve the city and its image, and he helped cut down the crime rate and improved city services. He also helped bring the Lions and Tigers back downtown with Ford Field and Comerica Park.
Archer then returned to the private sector, becoming the first African-American president of the American Bar Association. He is currently the chairman of the respected law firm Dickinson and Wright.
The public is invited to attend, and a $10 donation is requested. The courthouse is located at 200 E. Grand River Ave. For more information, call (810) 229-4212 or email livcodems@sbcuc.net.
2 comments:
Correction: Archer never brought the Tigers back downtown. The Tigers never left. They were at Michigan and Trumbell at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, and moved to Comerica Park, in Detroit.
Thanks for that correction. I’m not from Detroit, but I didn’t think Tiger Stadium was considered being in downtown. If it is I will correct that.
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