Detroit's pastor wants to be its mayor

Rev. Solomon Kinloch, Jr. is the leader of the city's largest church. He says a 'Kinloch administration' would be a continuation of his work as pastor.

Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., senior pastor at Triumph Church, inside the Detroit Public Library’s main branch on Woodward Ave. Kinloch is running for Detroit mayor. Photo: Nic Antaya/Detroit one million

Tens of thousands of residents already have an intimate relationship with one mayoral candidate who will appear on the ballot later this year.

That’s because he’s their pastor.

He’s never been elected, but Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., 51, turned heads after launching his campaign for mayor, summoning thousands of Triumph Church members to fill the lower bowl inside Fox Theatre.

Three weeks later, supporters, elected officials and even some of his opponents are still talking to me about it. With the primary election five months away, regular Detroiters are paying less attention.

Waiting for a fresh batch at Dutch Girl Donuts last weekend, I asked a staff member and customer, both in their 50s or early 60s, whether they knew any of the nine candidates running for Detroit mayor. They did not. I laid out the entire field, but City Council President Mary Sheffield and Kinloch were the only names they recognized.

“That’s my pastor,” the customer told me, adding she would vote for Kinloch.

So did Laveta Anderson, who was walking into the Detroit Public Library Monday as Kinloch was being photographed for this story.

“Make sure you vote for me for mayor,” Kinloch told her.

“Oh, I will,” Anderson replied.

Name recognition is a key factor politicos consider while discussing the potential success of campaigns in Detroit. However, it’s difficult to measure. While allies of candidates have already conducted polls to gauge this year’s mayor’s race, bias language makes it difficult to take the surveys as objective assessments.

What’s clear to me based on conversations with residents who say they’re voting in the Aug. 5 primary, is what Kinloch lacks in political experience, he makes up for in name ID.