Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel issued the following statement:

"I'm proud of the laws I helped pass to clean up the city, improve recreation opportunities and spur economic development. I'm proud of the fight that began in the 1960s against police brutality, a fight that I continued on Council through such efforts as when I and others called for federal oversight of the Detroit Police Department when we learned of such flagrant abuses as detention of witnesses and excessive shootings by police. I'm proud to have been appointed to the Monitoring Committee overseeing the city's compliance with a federal consent decree for the Detroit Police Department."

"I'm proud of the ordinances we passed that created tougher penalties for people who trash our city through illegal dumping and neglected property. I'm proud of the effort I was a part of to create a stronger casino development agreement, which included additional revenues for recreation programming. I'm proud of the reputation I have earned as someone who consistently does her homework, comes to Council meetings armed with information about the issues at hand and acts with integrity."

"In these and many other efforts, I have always sought to honor the legacy of my late husband, Ken Cockrel, and my parents, Lou and Justine Murphy, founders of the Detroit Catholic Worker, who have always been my role models. With the filing deadline approaching next Tuesday for this year's Council election, I have given considerable thought in recent months as to how I can best continue to make a contribution to this city that has been my home all of my life. Many friends and supporters have urged me to seek another term at this critical time in our city's history and have pledged their support."

"However, I have decided that it is time for new blood on City Council and time for me to find different ways to continue making contributions to this city. Therefore, I will not seek re-election to the Detroit City Council. That does not mean I will be dropping from sight. As someone who has been involved in the community since the days of Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, my commitment to social justice remains as strong as ever. That commitment will now be expressed through other avenues."

"I am deeply grateful to Detroit voters for their continued support over my four terms on Council. That support and the feedback I have received from them have been my greatest reward in a job that can have many frustrations. I particularly want to thank the current members of my staff. They are outstanding public servants who share my passion for Detroit and for public service. I could not have done this job without their dedicated assistance."

"I also want to acknowledge former staff members, many of who continue in public service as elected officials in their own right and in appointed positions in government throughout the region. Working with them has been one of the highlights of these 16 years. I look forward to this new chapter in my life with the same enthusiasm and passion that I have entered other chapters. I still believe this is a great city whose greatest days lie ahead. I look forward to making my own contribution to its future in whatever new opportunities arise in 2010 and beyond."