Dave Bing's comments about Mayor Kilpatrick get support

DETROIT -- Another influential African-American business leader spoke out Friday about the City Hall text-messaging scandal, a day after Detroit industrialist Dave Bing's call for corporate leaders to stop "playing it safe" and speak out.

Jon Barfield, president and chairman of the Livonia-based Bartech Group, said the "deadlock" over the scandal needs to be resolved, but said he wasn't calling for the resignation of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who is at the heart of the controversy and faces criminal charges as a result of the secret $8.4 million whistle-blowers settlement.

"The situation needs to resolve itself so the city can move forward," Barfield said, calling Kilpatrick -- whom he supported in the past two mayoral elections -- an "extraordinary" politician. "We need to break this deadlock one way or the other. I'm saddened by the state of affairs."

Others echoed Bing's concerns, but also stopped short of publicly criticizing Kilpatrick.

"We share Dave Bing's frustration and are empathetic towards the point he is making," said Dick Blouse, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, in a written statement issued Friday. "It's a view many in the business community hold, and it took courage to publicly state it.

"The scandal has become a distraction but until the political and legal processes move forward, the city and region are in a holding pattern. Other than creating headlines, the business community making any sweeping public statements on the matter won't change the reality that the judicial system has to resolve the issue."

On Thursday, Bing told The Detroit News that those who don't think the scandal has hurt the city have "their heads in the sand" and said business leaders, most of whom have refused to comment on it, shouldn't be afraid to speak out. Bing stopped short of calling on Kilpatrick to resign, but his words were some of the most critical Kilpatrick has faced from a prominent business leader since the scandal broke in January.

James Canning, a spokesman for Kilpatrick, said Friday that the mayor had no comment on Bing's statements.

On March 24, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury and official misconduct in a case related to a police whistle-blower trial in 2007.

Worthy's investigation began after pager text messages published in January pointed to a sexual relationship between Kilpatrick and Beatty and possible perjury about the nature of their relationship and circumstances surrounding the removal of Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown when they testified in the whistle-blowers case.

"We believe this whole matter is a distraction and disruptive to the city's progress, and we would like to see it settled as quickly as possible, both in a political and legal way," said Doug Rothwell, president of Detroit Renaissance.

John Rakolta Jr., a Detroit Renaissance member and CEO of Walbridge Aldinger Co., said Friday he stands by his position that the case has to "run its course" in the courts.

"In today's time, we are so quick to jump to judgment," he said.

"If I was going through the legal process ... I would want my day in court."

Rakolta said he doesn't know whether the scandal is hurting the region or the city and said those who claim it has should cite examples.

"Give me specifics," Rakolta said. "Are the buses still running? Are the lights still on?"

DTE Energy Co. Chairman Tony Earley was expected to meet with Kilpatrick on Friday, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

But aides to Kilpatrick and Earley would neither confirm nor deny the meeting.

Other Detroit Renaissance members either had no comment or didn't return calls through staffers Friday, including Roger Penske; Christopher Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Holdings; Sandra Pierce, Charter One's CEO; and representatives from the Big Three automakers.

"We respect Mr. Bing's opinion," said Greg Martin, a spokesman for General Motors Corp. "However, we don't feel it's appropriate to comment further."