Half of Detroit’s mayoral candidates are convicted felons

‘Four of the eight hopefuls running for mayor on the primary ballot in Detroit, Michigan have criminal convictions. Two were charged with assault involving guns. The candidates say their past motivated them to run for office.
One of the contenders, Donna Marie Pitts, 58, has multiple felony convictions. In 1987, she was convicted for her involvement in a shootout with the owner of an auto clinic over a repair bill.
A jury convicted Pitts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. She served about four years and eight months and was paroled on June 1, 1992, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Under a March 2003 plea agreement, Pitts was convicted of firearm possession and carrying a concealed weapon after she was stopped by police for an improper plate and failure to wear a seat belt.
Pitts disputes many of the allegations in each criminal case, saying she was discriminated against, according to the Detroit News.’
Read more: Half of Detroit’s mayoral candidates are convicted felons