Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield voted on demolition contracts for a company run by a man described as her former boyfriend, and the city's ethics board did not require disclosure
Subject of this story
What happened
While serving as Detroit City Council President and running for mayor, Mary Sheffield disclosed to the Detroit Board of Ethics in 2019 a personal relationship with Brian McKinney, CEO of demolition contractor Gayanga Co., who has since donated over $14,000 combined to her mayoral campaign and a supporting committee. Council records show Sheffield voted against some Gayanga contracts in 2019 but approved others in 2019 and later years. The Board of Ethics determined in 2019 that the relationship did not meet the legal definition of 'domestic partnership' and did not require recusal or disclosure beyond advising her to withhold confidential information. Sheffield, now mayor, was sworn in January 1, 2026; her office maintains no ethics rules were violated.
By the numbers (1)
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Figures
1 source
- BridgeDetroit
Sheffield disclosed her relationship with Gayanga CEO Brian McKinney to the Board of Ethics in 2019
Sources (2)
Response
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
Not yet contacted for this story.
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What happened next (0)
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