More Action. More Community. More with Mansfield!

Community First. Community Always.

Who is Jenell?

My name is Jenell Mansfield, and I am a candidate for Wayne County Commissioner-District 5. I am a proven leader whose career has been dedicated to empowering working people and strengthening the communities we all share.

I currently serve as the Political and Legislative Coordinator for American Federation of Teachers Michigan, where I train over 40,000 Pre-K-12, Higher Education, Healthcare Professionals, and School/University Support Staff, to become leaders who advocate for policy change. I represent members from across the state of Michigan, but specifically areas in Wayne county such as Detroit, Dearborn, Taylor, Hamtramck and Northville. I am the first Black woman and former educator to serve in this critical role.

Throughout my career, I have served Detroit as a classroom teacher, school social worker, non-profit leader and parent organizer/advocate. I served as the founding Director of Academics at the SAY Detroit Play Center under the leadership of Mitch Albom and previously led the Parent Academy initiative within the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Family and Community Engagement Department. I have been honored as an inaugural Skillman Visionary Awardee and serve as the Co-Chair of the Michigan Education Justice Coalition. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

I am a proud mother of three and a committed member of the Bagley Community Council. I am fueled to run for County Commissioner due to my own struggles navigating the barriers to resources offered between the state, city, county and non-profit systems. Wayne County has more residents than 11 states and passes budgets in the millions of dollars. District 5 is one of the few districts totally encapsulated in the city of Detroit and the majority of its residents are working class people. I have fought for workers in Lansing from helping repeal right to work, restore the collective bargaining rights of Detroit Teachers hired after 2019, and repealing Healthcare hard caps that stagnate workers' wages and limit their access to the doctors they deserve.

We deserve a people-powered voice in our county government that demands our needs be met. The same way I have fought for worker class people in Lansing, I will fight for them on the Wayne County Commission. My campaign is focused on strengthening neighborhoods, fair and equitable taxation, connecting our residents to the rest of Wayne County via regional transit, supporting our seniors and youth, and ensuring our communities have a strong voice in our county government.

Our Priorities

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Our Campaign’s Top Issues

I will focus on specific issues relevant to citizens in Wayne County District 5, which is part of the largest and most diverse county in Michigan. These key issues are significant not only for the county as a whole but also for the residents of District 5 as I embark on my political campaign for Wayne County Commissioner.

Equitable Taxation

For far too long Detroit residents have faced overtaxation, braved a foreclosure crisis and were left with no reparations ever awarded for their lost property and pathway to generational wealth. It is time for a people-powered movement in our county government to demand residents who were victims be compensated for their loss and to propose new formulaic changes to ensure residents are never overtaxed again. I will work in collaboration with the community to ensure Wayne County’s tax system is fair, transparent, and consistent, so homeowners in Detroit and across District 5 are not overburdened. I will push for accurate assessments, accountability in the Treasurer’s office, and policies that prevent overtaxation and displacement.

Regional Transit

This August our neighbors will have the opportunity to renew the millage that funds the SMART bus system which connects the 43 communities across Wayne county. This millage renewal would also expand routes from Detroit into communities such as Livonia, Redford and Plymouth township. This would afford Detroiters the opportunity to work and play in the surrounding communities and improve transportation access for our disabled and elderly neighbors. I will focus on building a connected, reliable regional transit system that gets residents to work, school, and essential services. I will advocate for expanded routes, better coordination between systems, and investments that make transit practical, not optional, for District 5 families.

Youth & Senior Empowerment

It is essential we invest in the people who book-end our community and who are its most vulnerable members. As County Commissioner I will support workforce development, mentorship, and safe spaces for young people, while ensuring seniors have access to transportation, housing stability, and the resources they need to age with dignity. I will collaborate with city and state officials to ensure we are maximizing our access to the current resources and removing the barriers to access many of our residents face.

Improved Infrastructure

District 5 is one of the few districts in Wayne county completely within the city of Detroit. We deserve modern, resilient infrastructure, from roads and sidewalks to drainage and public facilities like the surrounding communities in Wayne County. I will fight for equitable investment so every neighborhood in District 5 sees real improvements in safety, accessibility, and quality of life.