DETROIT (WXYZ) - Just hours after being voted into office, some of Detroit's 5 new City Council members are talking about what's next.
The new council, which takes office January 5 is composed of new City Council President Charles Pugh, Gary Brown, Saunteel Jenkins, Ken Cockrel Jr., Brenda Jones, Andre L. Spivey, James Tate, Kwame Kenyatta and Jo Ann Watson. Only Cockrel, Jones, Kenyatta and Watson are incumbents. Pugh, Brown, Jenkins, Spivey and Tate are all newcomers to the Council.
Pugh says "It's been very clear that we needed new leadership, and, so Detroiters are paying attention and yesterday they spoke with one voice." He says the "cloud" that has been over the council because of the recent scandals will be gone with the new council members. He says, "that was the past, and this election was about our future."
Tate says his election feels "almost surreal." Spivey says he's humbled by his election, and that it's now time to get to work. The new Council Members we spoke to say issue number one is getting the budget done.
