“ Having grown up in an inner-city neighborhood and attended ivy league universities, I've known very different communities in America. I've come to realize that all people in this country strive for the same objectives in life: freedom, security, and opportunity to fulfill our dreams. Having represented a socioeconomically diverse district in Congress and in the State Senate, I will continue to be an effective advocate for the people of the new 14th District. ”

“ The 14th District now includes portions of Detroit and Oakland County. How will you represent both constituencies which are sometimes at odds? I am the best qualified candidate to represent both the City of Detroit and its suburbs. I have lived in Detroit for 57 of my 65 years. We raised our children in Detroit during the last 25 years, and lived in Grosse Pointe Farms from 1979 to 1987. Where you live is where your heart is. Also for 22 years I saw over 11,000 people per year in my courtroom – people from all over the metro Detroit area – a total of more than 230,000 people. I have learned that there are more similarities than differences between Detroiters and suburbanites, such as the yearning for good education for our children, jobs, and the practice of religion free from the meddling of Washington. ”

“ As mentioned, I have a long history of representing diverse interests and achieving results that serve diverse constituencies. The citizens of Michigan’s 14th Congressional District share concerns over the core issues of job creation, rebuilding our infrastructure, and enhancing educational opportunities for our young people, and I will fight for these issues in Washington, D.C. ”

“ Whether you live in Detroit or the suburbs, we all want the same thing for our families: good paying jobs, decent healthcare, safe schools and streets, a fair chance for our children to achieve greater economic opportunity, and the ability to live out our retirement years in dignity. As a Member of Congress representing the entire 14th District my job will be to focus on policies that unite our communities, and that build a stronger, more prosperous region with a vibrant and thriving Detroit at its core. For example, I will continue to be a leader in the fight for a regional transit system that unites all of Southeast Michigan, and which will be a catalyst for economic growth and development. The new 14th District will cross the 8 Mile divide, putting the county seats of Wayne and Oakland County in the same Congressional seat for the first time, creating a unique opportunity to reject the divisive politics of the past and instead focus on the policies that unite us, and pursue an agenda that benefits our entire region. ”

“ The 14th District now includes portions of Detroit and Oakland County. How will Mary Waters represent both constituencies which sometimes are at odds? Partisan gerrymandering of the 14th District presents a unique opportunity to gerrymander social and economic justice. The challenges of Detroit and Oakland County cannot be marginalized as Michigan issues. Detroit is an American issue. How America deals with Pontiac and Detroit may well reach the world stage if we continue to ignore urban communities. The plight of Detroit juxtaposed with the fright of suburbanites requires us to strike a balance rooted in tolerance and a sense of history. I will have field offices in Oakland County & Detroit. I will listen to high tech CEOs seeking government contracts even as I address the unique needs of Single Moms and the working poor. Both constituencies will have my ear and heart. My staff will reflect the demographics of the district. I will also structure meet the people of the 14th working sessions so that constituents from all walks of life can meet and discuss how we share limited resources as we share unlimited human goodwill. ”