Saunteel A. Jenkins
Saunteel Jenkins (born November 18, 1970) is the former CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (2014–2025), a former Detroit City Council president (2010–2014) and a current candidate in the 2025 Detroit mayoral election. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Early life and career
Jenkins was born in Detroit to Jo Lillian Jenkins and Louis Willis. She lost her 14-year-old brother, JoVan Willis, to gun violence in 1991. She has one sister.[1]
She graduated from Detroit's Cass Technical High School and Wayne State University's School of Social Work, where she earned both bachelors and masters degrees. While at Wayne State University, Jenkins interned for Detroit City Council President Maryann Mahaffey, and ultimately served as her chief of staff from 1999-2004. A social worker, Jenkins served as director of the substance abuse treatment center at Mariner's Inn, a homeless shelter for men in Detroit.[2]
Detroit City Council and THAW careers
Jenkins was first elected to Detroit City Council in 2009 and was named president. She was re-elected in 2013 as one of two at-large members. She resigned from City Council in 2014 to become the CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund,[3] a position she held until 2025 when she began her mayoral bid. At THAW, Jenkins moved the organization beyond utility assistance to also include heat, electric, water and home repair assistance, while raising more than $100 million for these efforts.[4] Since it began as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 1985, THAW has distributed $238 million in assistance to almost 331,000 Michigan households.[5]
Mayoral campaign
Jenkins declared her candidacy for Detroit mayor on January 15, 2025 at the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center, a place near her childhood home.[6] Her campaign priorities, called "Saunteel's Six," are:
- Stronger Neighborhoods-A City We Can All Afford
- A Safer Detroit
- More Job Opportunities, More Opportunities for All
- Get Small Business Back in Business
- Public Transit You Can Rely On
- Strong Schools for A Strong Future[7]
Jenkins has been endorsed by The Detroit News[8] and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.[9]
Personal life
Jenkins married Carl Bentley in 2010. In 2020, she battled a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis and today is cancer-free.[10]
External links
Official campaign website (Saunteel Jenkins for Mayor)
References
- ^ Barrett, Malachi (January 14, 2025). "Why THAW CEO Saunteel Jenkins wants to be Detroit's next Mayor". Bridge Detroit. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Kaffer, Nancy (August 27, 2004). "Former councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins announces Detroit mayoral bid". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bartkowiak, Jr., Dave (October 17, 2014). "Detroit City Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins resigns". WDIV-TV4. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Welch, Sherri (January 16, 2025). "THAW names new CEO to succeed mayoral candidate Saunteel Jenkins". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Heat and Warmth Fund". July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Curry, Ebony (January 15, 2025). "Saunteel Jenkins Officially Announces Bid for Detroit's Mayor". The Michigan Chronicle. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jenkins, Saunteel (February 15, 2025). "Saunteel's Six Policy Priorities". Saunteel Jenkins for Mayor. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Editorial: Our primary election choice for Detroit mayor". The Detroit News. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Frank, Annalise (June 16, 2025). "Trail Mix: In the TV spotlight". Axios: Detroit. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Walker, Rhonda (October 18, 2021). "One year later: Saunteel Jenkins' cancer survival story". WDIV-TV4. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)