Detroit Medical Center CEO makes run for city mayor

The chief executive of Detroit Medical Center is looking to run more than the eight-hospital integrated system, as he filed papers yesterday with the city of Detroit in a potential bid for mayor, The Detroit News reported.

To verify his run for mayor, CEO Mike Duggan is taking three months to review whether the community would support his candidacy. He's also looking to fundraise $5 million in commitments to run.

"I feel like this is my city," Duggan told the Detroit News. "I was born here. I've worked here for the last 30 years. And I just think it's too great a city to let it go down the way it's going down."

With aims to turn around the city, Duggan was at the helm during various successes at DMC, such as $850 million of investments in the hospital, as well as plans to add 2,000 employees this year, Michigan Radio reported.

In fact, the system saw its first profit since 1997 after he took the reins in 2004, according to the Detroit system.

Duggan wouldn't be the first hospital exec to jump into the political arena. Kenneth W. Bradley, campus CEO of 307-bed Winter Park Memorial Hospital is serving his second term as mayor of the city of Winter Park, Fla.

With healthcare a key issue in the November elections, physician leaders also are looking to run for office, with 28 physicians throwing their hats in the congressional ring.

To learn more:
- read the Detroit News article
- here's the Michigan Radio article
- check out the DMC website
- visit the Winter Park city website