Ben Carson Running for President

By BETH DALBEY

Celebrated neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who has lived in West Friendship and now resides in West Palm Beach, Fla., returned to his native Detroit Monday to announce he’s a Republican candidate for president.

“I’m Ben Carson, and I’m a candidate for President of the United States,” he said in an announcement he broadcast live on his Facebook page.

The announcement isn’t unexpected. He announced he had formed an exploratory committee earlier this spring, and was quickly apologizing for saying being gay is a choice.

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Carson, 63, is a political newcomer and is expected to be the only high-profile African-American in the GOP presidential race.

While not a politician by trade, he is well known for his achievements in pediatric medicine, such as being the first surgeon to separate twins conjoined by the head, and being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 for his contributions to the profession. Through the Carson Scholars Program, Carson has provided scholarships for 6,200 students and established more than 100 reading rooms for children across the country.

An ardent critic of the Affordable Care Act, Carson gained political prominence at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2013 when he decried the “moral decay” in America.

Two other Republicans—Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has announced his candidacy, and likely candidate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker—have also scheduled Monday appearances in Michigan.