Gabe Leland
Gabe Leland was a nonpartisan District 7 representative on the Detroit City Council in Michigan. First elected in 2013, Leland won a new term in the general election on November 7, 2017. He resigned on May 3, 2021, after pleading guilty to misconduct in office.[1]
Leland was previously a Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 10th District from 2005 to 2010.
On October 4, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Leland on two counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.[2] Click here for more information.
Biography
Leland grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He received a bachelor's degree in public administration from Central Michigan University. After leaving the state legislature in 2010, Leland began working for a financial advisory firm and as a consultant in community affairs for the Detroit Medical Center.[3]
Elections
2017
The city of Detroit, Michigan, held elections for mayor, city council, city clerk, and the Detroit Board of Police Commisisoners on November 7, 2017. A primary election was held on August 8, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 25, 2017.[4]
Incumbent Gabe Leland defeated Regina Ross in the general election for District 7 on the Detroit City Council.
| Detroit City Council, District 7 General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Gabe Leland Incumbent |
55.87% | 7,007 |
| Regina Ross | 43.59% | 5,467 |
| Write-in votes | 0.54% | 68 |
| Total Votes | 12,542 | |
| Source: Wayne County, Michigan, "2017 November 7th General & Special General Election Official Results," November 7, 2017 | ||
Incumbent Gabe Leland and Regina Ross defeated JoAnna Underwood in the primary election for District 7 on the Detroit City Council.[5]
| Detroit City Council, District 7 Primary Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Gabe Leland Incumbent |
59.17% | 4,554 |
| Regina Ross |
24.67% | 1,899 |
| JoAnna Underwood | 15.81% | 1,217 |
| Write-in votes | 0.35% | 27 |
| Total Votes | 7,697 | |
| Source: Wayne County Clerk, "2017 Primary Official Results," accessed August 23, 2017 | ||
Campaign themes
2017
Leland's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[6]
Economic development
- Excerpt: "Councilman Leland will hold business owners and developers accountable when they make commitments to hire Detroiters and Detroit-based businesses by initiating regular check-ins with development projects and existing businesses."
Literacy
- Excerpt: "Councilman Leland will partner with schools, foundations, community groups and residents to initiate proactive reading programs."
Neighborhoods
- Excerpt: "Councilman Leland will work collaboratively duplicate the efforts that have been done to improve the quality of life in Downtown, Midtown and Corktown into our core neighborhoods that maximizes the assets we have in District 7 and all seven districts."
Public safety
- Excerpt: "Councilman Leland will collaborate with my colleagues and the Duggan Administration to identify grants to provide more police officers, firefighters, EMS technicians and the necessary public safety equipment."
Technology
- Excerpt: "Councilman Leland will identify funding opportunities for technology which includes partnering with community organizations to provide access."
Noteworthy events
Misconduct in office (2018)
On October 4, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Leland on two counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Leland allegedly conspired to solicit $15,000 in bribes from local businesses. According to the indictment, Leland "agreed to help delay or prevent the city's sale of property that the business owner believed he owned in exchange for the bribes."[2]
On May 3, 2021, Leland pleaded guilty to misconduct in office and resigned from the Detroit City Council.[1]
On June 7, 2021, Leland was sentenced to two and half years of probation. According to the Detroit Metro Times, at his sentencing hearing Leland said, “I helped a lot of people along the way, but I crossed the line and I apologize to my constituents, to the residents of the city of Detroit, and to my family.”[7]
See also
| Detroit, Michigan | Michigan | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
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External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Detroit News, "Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland pleads guilty to misconduct in office, resigns," May 3, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 MLive.com, "Detroit councilman indicted, accused of taking bribes over land deal," October 4, 2018
- ↑ City of Detroit, "Gabe Leland," accessed June 16, 2017
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces re-election bid," February 4, 2017
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "It's official: 8 Detroit mayoral candidates will be on primary ballot," May 11, 2017
- ↑ Gabe Leland campaign website, "Priorities," accessed June 16, 2017
- ↑ Detroit Metro Times, "Ex-Detroit Councilman Leland avoids jail time, sentenced to probation for misconduct in office," accessed April 29, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Detroit City Council, District 7 2014 - 2021 |
Succeeded by Fred Durhal III |
| Preceded by - |
Michigan House of Representatives, District 10 2005–2011 |
Succeeded by Harvey Santana |
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State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
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