Candidate Profile, Sharon McPhail, U.S. Congress; Detroit area

DETROIT — Democrat Sharon McPhail is one numerous candidates seeking the newly drawn 13th U.S. Congressional District, which includes large sections of Detroit. Here's how she filled out her candidate profile:

Name

Sharon McPhail

Campaign website

https://sharonmcphailforcongre...

City or town of residence

Detroit

Office sought

U.S. Congress

District, if applicable

13th Congressional District

Party affiliation

Democratic

Education

Law Degree from Northeastern School of Law

Occupation

Attorney-26 years

Family

2 adult daughters (Angela and Erica) both doing well. Foster daughter-Ashley.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Age

74

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Detroit City Council from 2002-2006

Why are you seeking this office?

Politicians get into office and do nothing for the people. People are suffering and are tired of excuses. I have been in politics for over 40 years and know what needs to be done and will actually do it. It's time for people elected to office to keep their word. I will most certainly fight for the people.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have 40 years of experience working with the people who live in the 13th district and have the fight in me to get things done. I have a track record for revitalizing schools and plans to re-engineer the work force; Advocating and funding human rights initiatives; Plans to break the cycle of poverty.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

The public school system has failed, senior citizens are barely able to live on their social security and housing is an issue. We need people in office to solve the problems of the suffering and develop plans that will support a stable community (education, jobs, healthcare, etc.).

Do you think the federal government can or should do more to curb inflation, which has led to an increase in prices for food, gas and other goods?

We need policies in place to give everyone an equal opportunity to utilize resources in place to promote an economically stable environment and higher education.

Do you support changing the state’s constitution to ensure that women have to right to get an abortion?

Absolutely. What a woman does with her body is her business. NO ONE should be able to dictate how one may choose to care for their body.

Do you support the Raise the Wage ballot initiative, which would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 and provide cost-of-living increases in later years?

Yes. The people should be able to earn wages that match the cost of living in their area, keeping poverty low.

Would you support an election initiative to require another audit of the 2020 presidential election, to transfer authority over the audit from the Secretary of State to a newly created auditing panel, and to change how elections are reviewed in the future?

We need a plan/law in place to eliminate the possibility of elections being compromised and those with power and money having access to corrupt the the people's voting rights.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Poverty; lack of suitable education in redlined areas; unstable workforce; Senior citizens social security income being unreasonably taxed, just to name a few.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

*Created and implemented One Night Shelter initiative to house homeless throughout the winter months at local churches; To feed and shelter 10,000 homeless citizens over a four year period. *Wrote and sponsored the first in Michigan Detroit Children's Fund, investing in Detroit's children and providing them with a free college education. *Created Missing Children's Task Force to engage police department in new efforts to locate missing children. *Developed and implemented first program to provide $8 prescriptions and reduce cost of medications for Detroiters. These are just some of the ideas I implemented during my 40 year career in politics.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To always keep my word. Don't make promises you can't keep.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am dedicated to the people in the 13th district. People are suffering because politicians get into office with promises they didn't keep and followed it up with excuses. I am Sharon McPhail and I will fight for the people, our right to choose and implement plans to protect our children, senior citizens and do away with discriminatory practices.