Meet Fred Durhal

Fred Durhal is a life-long Detroiter who has dedicated his career to delivering for Detroit at the grassroots level, in the State Legislature and on the Detroit City Council.

Whether serving in Lansing as the Assistant Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, the Ranking Democrat of the Appropriations Committee, or a Member of the Detroit City Council where he Chairs the Budget and is the Vice-Chair of Planning and Economic Development – Fred has always delivered for Detroit.

Fred is committed to fight for every Detroiter’s opportunity to enjoy a good quality of life, succeed and prosper.

“Detroit is my home and I have been honored to serve my community as an elected public servant for almost a decade. I worked tirelessly to deliver resources and opportunities to the city that I know and love. I fought for good jobs, safe streets and expanded opportunities so every hardworking Detroit family gets a fair shake at a good quality of life. Detroit has momentum on our side, and I’m excited to do my part to keep that positivity going, bring people together and build on our amazing partnerships in Detroit and across Michigan.”

Fred Durhal Delivers for Detroit.

  • Spearheaded efforts in securing investment in the $66-million rehabilitation of the former American Motors Corp. headquarters in the city’s northwest side, which enticed General Motors to lease the facility and bring almost 400 jobs to District 7
  • Supported $3 billion Henry Ford Health hospital expansion in the neighborhood which brought 2,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs to Detroit
  • Supported Hudson’s site development, which employed around 3,500 skilled trades construction professionals and which will bring 2,000 jobs to Detroit
  • Supported District Detroit development, which is expected to employ 12,000 new construction professionals and 6,000 permanent jobs for Detroiters
  • Helped to support small businesses through Motor City Match which lead to job creation 
  • Championed childcare ordinance that helps to expand affordable daycares for families across the city
  • Supported free bus rides for expectant mothers and mothers to newborn babies
  • Championed down-payment assistance programs for Detroit first-time homeowners
  • Helped secure 239 Detroit families become homeowners through the Make it Home program in 2024, bringing the program to 1,396 families avoiding tax-foreclosure adjacent placement since 2017 when the program launched
  • Helped to secure funding from federal government to replace lead service lines in District 7
  • Delivered $2.5 million for reading programs in Detroit Public Schools as a State Representative
  • Fought, saved and delivered $8.5 million for the Goodwill Flip the Script program to derail the pipeline to prison for youth as a State Representative
  • Helped secure $21.5 million Strategic Neighborhood Fund investment for the Dexter Avenue area to create new streetscapes, park improvements and facade improvements, among other things
  • Strengthened neighborhoods by creating two recreation centers in District 7, which previously had none, including a $20-million center in partnership with the Detroit Pistons
  • Delivered resources to rehabilitate and upgrade over 80% of all parks in the district
  • Secured and delivered over $1 billion to Detroit as a State Representative 
  • Secured over $250,000 to ensure Dexter Elmhurst Community Center remained open as a State Representative
  • Delivered over $15 million to fix roads in Detroit as a State Representative
  • Chaired the Gun Violence Task Force
  • Championed permanent funding for Community Violence Intervention 
  • Supported $10 million grants to Community Violence Intervention groups who helped curb crime leading to historic reduction in crime rates
  • Supported Detroit Police Department’s Shotspotter Program
  • Supported Detroit Police Department’s License Plate Reader Funding
  • Delivered $790 million in revenue sharing for Detroit to fund police, fire, EMS and city services as a State Representative
  • Sponsored the PILOT Fast track ordinance that allows for the speedy development of affordable housing in Detroit neighborhoods
  • Helped deliver over $1 billion in affordable housing
  • Helped secure $40 million in funding for affordable housing projects in District 7
  • Supported an additional $5 million in the budget to provide shelters for unhoused residents and ensure every Detroit has a roof over his or her head
  • Enticed small business growth in District 7’s commercial corridors, which have welcomed at least 12 new small businesses, including restaurants, an exercise studio and retail outlets through the use of Motor City Match
  • Supported a $121 million investment in small businesses which will lead to the creation of 1,700 jobs and the expansion or creation of over 300 small businesses
  • Supported the creation of 25 small business support hubs which include at least one hub in each city council district
  • Delivered $2 million for Home Accessibility program that provides home repairs and improvements for seniors and residents with disabilities
  • Delivered $1.2 million to create a grant fund for snow removal for seniors and disabled community
  • Supported putting aside $150 million each year in the Retiree Protection Fund which serves as a trust fund to provide pension payments to our retirees who sacrificed for the city during the municipal bankruptcy
  • Chaired the Retiree Task Force which helped to deliver a 13th check for our retirees and pensioners, equaling $10 million total
  • Delivered over $3 million to expand snow removal services for the seniors in the cold winter months
  • Secured $6 million in the budget to expand office of disability affairs to further aid disabled residents
  • Supported a 13% increase in the transportation budget to add 117 more bus drivers and raises for bus drivers which helps to provide more routes for seniors and disabled residents