Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence (right) and her daughter, Michelle.

Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence knows a thing or two about change. Seven years ago Lawrence became the first African American and the first woman to be elected Mayor of Southfield, Mich. Under the guidance and leadership of Lawrence, Southfield’s population of 78,000 has seen the city grow into one the strongest tax bases in the entire Midwest.

Currently in the third year of her second term, Lawrence remains just as driven as she was before her first inauguration. “I was re-elected to my second term and I ran uncontested, which was quite a testament of support,” she says. “We have a lot of challenges in the city, but Southfield is doing very well.” One prominent challenge facing Lawrence and her staff is the nationwide mortgage crisis, which she along with state senators and the city council are working to help curb in her region. “This foreclosure issue is really becoming a challenge,” she admits. “It’s something we’ve never confronted before in spite of a strong tax base. It’s limited what you can do, because each one’s an individual case, however, we’re really fighting to keep our property maintained [and] to make sure we don’t get blight.”

On top of handling her duties as mayor, Lawrence will also be readying herself to run for county executive against L. Brooks Patterson when her final term is done. Yet, for Lawrence, a member of the Democratic Party, the only election she’s currently concerned about is the 2008 presidential election. “I’m excited about the upcoming election” she says. “I am absolutely positive there will be a Democrat in the White House and I’m excited about that.” -gavin philip godfrey

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