Valerie Parker
Valerie Parker ran for election for an at-large seat of the Detroit City Council in Michigan. She lost in the primary on August 5, 2025.
Parker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Valerie Parker was born in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Central High School. She earned an associate degree from Washtenaw Community College in 2003, a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, Dearborn in 2016, and a graduate from Eastern Michigan University in 2017. Her professional experience includes serving as an urban educator, community activist, and youth advocate.[1][2][3]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Detroit, Michigan (2025)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Detroit City Council At-large (2 seats)
Incumbent Mary Waters, incumbent Coleman Young II, Janee Ayers, and James Harris are running in the general election for Detroit City Council At-large on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Mary Waters (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Coleman Young II (Nonpartisan) | |
| Janee Ayers (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | James Harris (Nonpartisan) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Detroit City Council At-large (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the primary for Detroit City Council At-large on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mary Waters (Nonpartisan) | 32.8 | 47,845 |
| ✔ | | Coleman Young II (Nonpartisan) | 32.1 | 46,751 |
| ✔ | Janee Ayers (Nonpartisan) | 13.8 | 20,051 | |
| ✔ | | James Harris (Nonpartisan) | 7.3 | 10,649 |
 | Shakira Lynn Hawkins (Nonpartisan) | 6.0 | 8,694 | |
 | Valerie Parker (Nonpartisan) | 2.9 | 4,299 | |
| Gary Hunter (Nonpartisan) | 2.4 | 3,471 | ||
 | Levan Adams (Nonpartisan) | 2.3 | 3,388 | |
| Theodore Dorsette (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 16 | ||
| Patricia Hurt (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Anthony Walker (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Jenika-Renee' Whitehead (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 637 | ||
| Total votes: 145,806 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Victoria Collier (Nonpartisan)
- Ramon Jackson (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
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2018
General election
Incumbent Sherry Gay-Dagnogo defeated Valerie Parker in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 8
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D) | 96.4 | 26,995 |
| Valerie Parker (R) | 3.6 | 1,022 | |
| Total votes: 28,017 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Incumbent Sherry Gay-Dagnogo defeated Jasmine Henry, George Etheridge, LaSonya Beaver, and Seydi Sarr in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 on August 7, 2018.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sherry Gay-Dagnogo | 62.5 | 7,892 |
| Jasmine Henry | 12.9 | 1,624 | ||
 | George Etheridge | 10.6 | 1,333 | |
| LaSonya Beaver | 8.1 | 1,026 | ||
 | Seydi Sarr | 6.0 | 755 | |
| Total votes: 12,630 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Valerie Parker advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8 on August 7, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 8
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Valerie Parker | 100.0 | 228 |
| Total votes: 228 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Valerie Parker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Parker's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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It is time to rebuild our communities and neighborhoods. I have been working in the unregulated charter schools in Detroit surrounding area for over 15 yrs observing the violation of K-12 civil rights to a basic education. I am a Talented Tenth doing what my ancestor told us to do concerning educating our youths and community.
I was trained by the Honorable John Conyers Jr., ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and ex-Mayor Bing alone with his staff. I started a nonprofit in the Brightmoor community "The Fayz Group" attempting to create a high-quality safe academic space during non-school time. Our youth are in trouble and then need us. We are all they have, and I have been shouting these words for over 10 yrs.- The unregulated Charter schools must be regulated and should be regulated by Detroit City Council.
- The Detroit Police Impound policy must be review. The system is causing more harm to the victim whose vehicle was stolen. They are not the criminals and should be treated with respect. The rule is if a person resides in Detroit and their vehicle was stolen and recovered in Detroit there is no impound fee and it should be posted.
- Detroit City Council should offer information on opening a business in a pay to play arena to women. Women are treated differently and there should be resources to guild with finding out Michigan and Detroit permits and licensing rules.
Affordable housing funding polices to assist seniors, disable individuals, and low socioeconomic working class.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. last book.
Elected officials should be honest, transparent, educated, and willing to listen.
Elected officials should be aware of what is happening on the ground as well as with the state.
Elected officials should be reachable all year round not just during campaign season.
The youth should know who their city official is by being visible at their schools due to regular visits.
An Elected Official must have good standing in the community and is known by their continuants.
An Elected Official should be a person of their words.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Valerie Parker participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on September 7, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Valerie Parker's responses follow below.[4]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1. Education 2. Community development 3. Home ownership[5][6] |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I am currently concerned with the terminology "gentrification" which has caused fear and manic due to post-modern progress and its policies and regulations. I am concerned with the debate over high insurance rates in Detroit due to redlining for years. I am concerned with policies that allow public schools to close allowing the buildings to sit empty while children are bused to schools outside of their communities.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[6]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Valerie Parker answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | I have much respect for Congressman John Conyers Jr. who taught me what I know. He helped me to understand that good character is needed in the arena of politics. He taught me to help the people.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have been in the book of Proverbs in the Bible since I entered the race. I love wisdom and need her to guide me along this path. I want to be righteous in my dealings concerning my constituents.[6] | ” |
| “ | I think truth is the best characteristic to possess. People may not like what you say but if it is truth they have gained knowledge.[6] | ” |
| “ | I understand the people and I hear what they are saying. I am one of them. They know my heart is right and I love Jesus.[6] | ” |
| “ | The District 8 State Representative core responsibility is to work for the constituents of the district and the communities including businesses. The Rep should to be visible and easy to contact being relatable to the people.[6] | ” |
| “ | I would like to leave two Vocational Training Facilities in district 8 by opening up two of the vacant school buildings. One facility would be from 4th -7th grade and the other from 8th -12th grade giving preference to the youths in the community.[6] | ” |
| “ | I remember the riot in Detroit in the late 1960s. I remember the big tanks driving through my community and being bused to an all white school. It changed me.[6] | ” |
| “ | I worked with my grandmother in her soul food restaurant as a child before she died. She taught me entrepreneur skills. I desire to open a supper club with my culinary arts knowledge in the future which I have academic education to do.[6] | ” |
| “ | My awkward date was when I took a male friend out to a concert and his coat fell on the ground as I picked his coat up off the ground condoms fell from his pocket. It was not that type of date.[6] | ” |
| “ | Christmas and Passover are my favorite holidays. Jesus saved me from me and I am thankful that he died on the cross and rose with all power.[6] | ” |
| “ | The Bible is my favorite book. It has changed me and introduced me to my heavenly Father. I am currently pursuing my second masters in School, Society and Violence which has me reading many books and articles.[6] | ” |
| “ | I would be Samantha of "Bewitched". I would be careful how I use my powers.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have a wall picture that I bought over 7 yrs. ago and I named her "Wisdom". Where ever I reside she will be with me.[6] | ” |
| “ | Nina Simone – Feeling Good - "It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life for me, yeah And I'm feeling good" is the song that had been struck in my head.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have struggled with my negative thoughts toward the Church and how it has changed from what it use to be when I got "saved".[6] | ” |
| “ | One is reactive and one is proactive. Neither is listening.[6] | ” |
| “ | I believe some political knowledge is important. You will grow on the job while getting to know your team and the silent rules of the game. Politics is a game which can cause gain or loss.[6] | ” |
| “ | Preparing the youths for the changes that are occurring due to global warming and the effects on the ecosystem.[6] | ” |
| “ | Listening will be the ideal relationship between the two.[6] | ” |
| “ | Yes I do. We are a team of professionals working for the people bringing different views and ideas which should be an asset instead of a liability.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have no opinion on the matter at this particular time. I have not given it much thought.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have no opinion on the matter at this particular time. I have not given it much thought.[6] | ” |
| “ | I have no opinion on the matter at this particular time. I have not given it much thought.[6] | ” |
| “ | Congressman John Conyers doing his younger active days is the individual I would like to model and bring encouragement to people.[6] | ” |
| “ | I do not believe I want to make a career in politics. I see how I can help my district currently understanding policies and want to make a difference. I desire to own and operate my own business in addition to being a directory of a vocational school.[6] | ” |
| “ | All the constituents have been telling the same story with different actors. They want schools for their children in the community. They want home ownership opportunities and they want to create a safe community neighborhood by neighborhood.[6] | ” |
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I choose to run for office to stop the closing of the schools in the Brighmoor community and district 8. I want to present a pilot program that will be able to assist communities toward self development. I am running for office to make a difference. Is there anything you would like to add? It is a time for the changing of the guards in Detroit's House District Seat 8. I ask for two years to make a difference. Gentrification is not a bad word it stands for progress.[6] |
” |
| —Valerie Parker[1] | ||
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on September 11, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Valerie Parker," May 19, 2025
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 9, 2025
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Valerie Parker's responses," September 7, 2018
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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