Phillips is an attorney with experience and a passion for justice!
The 2009 Detroit Charter Revision Commission has selected attorney Tonya Myers Phillips to replace Freman Hendrix on the Charter Revision Commission. Hendrix resigned from the Commission to avoid a potential conflict of interest and to be eligible to receive a gaming license from the State Gaming Board. The license allows Mr. Hendrix to be selected to the governance board of the Greektown Casino. Attorney Tonya Myers Phillips is currently practicing law as a foreclosure attorney with the Michigan Legal Services organization. She has a wide array of community involvement and contacts that suggest her passion for justice and for good and effective government. Ms. Phillips ran in the 2009 Charter Commission election and finished 10th in a race for nine possible seats on the Commission.
At the September 14th Commission meeting, Vice Chair Jenice Mitchell Ford automatically ascended to the position of Chair as provided by the operational rules of the Commission. The Commission also delayed the selection of a replacement Vice Chair until after arrangements have been made to swear in Ms. Phillips. Also during the meeting, Chairperson Ford provided a tribute to outgoing Chair Hendrix by detailing his thirty plus years of public service. Hendrix indicated that the work of the Commission is of vital importance to the growth and development of the city. He said “Every Commissioner is important and critical. The citizens of Detroit have elected strong and thoughtful leaders who will work together to clean up the city and forge a new Charter. I have every confidence that the Commission will move quickly to complete the charge given to them by the people.”
Ms. Phillips, upon accepting her new role as a member of the Charter Commission, said, “I ran for the Detroit Charter Commission because I wanted to help examine and revise our city's governing structure. I recognized there were important issues to tackle such as the role of council by district, removal and forfeiture, privatization, and more. I look forward to ensuring ethics, accountability, and responsiveness as the foundation of our government. I look forward to serving on the Commission and working with the citizens to get it right and create a durable framework for Detroit's future success.”
New Charter Commission Chair Jenice Mitchell Ford, also added, “I welcome Ms. Phillips to the Commission. We had a full range of excellent candidates for the position. I want to thank each and every candidate who applied for this vacancy. But, at the end of the day, we could only select one Commissioner. I, as well as other Commissioners weighed the advantages and the disadvantages of each candidate. We established selection rules designed to create an even playing field for each candidate. The end result is that Ms. Phillips demonstrated her interest in the process and she has shown her ability to work with many of our city’s stakeholders. I am confident that she is hard working and will make an excellent addition to the Commission.” Ms. Phillips joins the Commission after several rounds of voting and a failed attempt to amend the selection rules that would have established a Commission precedent for the automatic selection of the next top vote getter to ascend to the Commission to fill vacancies. The Commission selection process encouraged Detroit citizens from all walks of life to become engaged in the formation of the new Charter.
With a full complement of Commissioners the Commission is poised to implement its next stage of Charter work; three (3) geographically diverse Charter Conventions of citizen and stakeholder driven working sessions. Convention # 1 and #2 are designed for citizens and stakeholders to work in interactive sessions to weigh the options and opportunities associated with a revised Charter. Convention #3 will highlight the recommendations from Detroit’s executive and legislative branches, as well as allow for other non-governmental organizations and agencies to impact the work of the Commission. The Conventions will be held in the last quarter of this year utilizing a weekend format (Saturday and Sunday) that is designed to encourage a greater mix of citizens to participate in the Charter Revision process.
Ms. Philips is expected to take her seat before the next scheduled meeting of the Commission on September 28, 2010 at 6:00 PM at the Lipke Recreational Center, 19320 VanDyke, Detroit, MI 48234. The topic for the September 28 meeting is Public Health and Health Care. If you have questions about this meeting, please contact Gregory Hicks, Executive Director, 2009 Detroit Charter Revision Commission at 313-628-2516.
At the September 14th Commission meeting, Vice Chair Jenice Mitchell Ford automatically ascended to the position of Chair as provided by the operational rules of the Commission. The Commission also delayed the selection of a replacement Vice Chair until after arrangements have been made to swear in Ms. Phillips. Also during the meeting, Chairperson Ford provided a tribute to outgoing Chair Hendrix by detailing his thirty plus years of public service. Hendrix indicated that the work of the Commission is of vital importance to the growth and development of the city. He said “Every Commissioner is important and critical. The citizens of Detroit have elected strong and thoughtful leaders who will work together to clean up the city and forge a new Charter. I have every confidence that the Commission will move quickly to complete the charge given to them by the people.”
Ms. Phillips, upon accepting her new role as a member of the Charter Commission, said, “I ran for the Detroit Charter Commission because I wanted to help examine and revise our city's governing structure. I recognized there were important issues to tackle such as the role of council by district, removal and forfeiture, privatization, and more. I look forward to ensuring ethics, accountability, and responsiveness as the foundation of our government. I look forward to serving on the Commission and working with the citizens to get it right and create a durable framework for Detroit's future success.”
New Charter Commission Chair Jenice Mitchell Ford, also added, “I welcome Ms. Phillips to the Commission. We had a full range of excellent candidates for the position. I want to thank each and every candidate who applied for this vacancy. But, at the end of the day, we could only select one Commissioner. I, as well as other Commissioners weighed the advantages and the disadvantages of each candidate. We established selection rules designed to create an even playing field for each candidate. The end result is that Ms. Phillips demonstrated her interest in the process and she has shown her ability to work with many of our city’s stakeholders. I am confident that she is hard working and will make an excellent addition to the Commission.” Ms. Phillips joins the Commission after several rounds of voting and a failed attempt to amend the selection rules that would have established a Commission precedent for the automatic selection of the next top vote getter to ascend to the Commission to fill vacancies. The Commission selection process encouraged Detroit citizens from all walks of life to become engaged in the formation of the new Charter.
With a full complement of Commissioners the Commission is poised to implement its next stage of Charter work; three (3) geographically diverse Charter Conventions of citizen and stakeholder driven working sessions. Convention # 1 and #2 are designed for citizens and stakeholders to work in interactive sessions to weigh the options and opportunities associated with a revised Charter. Convention #3 will highlight the recommendations from Detroit’s executive and legislative branches, as well as allow for other non-governmental organizations and agencies to impact the work of the Commission. The Conventions will be held in the last quarter of this year utilizing a weekend format (Saturday and Sunday) that is designed to encourage a greater mix of citizens to participate in the Charter Revision process.
Ms. Philips is expected to take her seat before the next scheduled meeting of the Commission on September 28, 2010 at 6:00 PM at the Lipke Recreational Center, 19320 VanDyke, Detroit, MI 48234. The topic for the September 28 meeting is Public Health and Health Care. If you have questions about this meeting, please contact Gregory Hicks, Executive Director, 2009 Detroit Charter Revision Commission at 313-628-2516.
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