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history.

Jai-Lee Dearing was born and raised in Detroit right here in Our County—Wayne. A lifelong resident, Jai-Lee both lives and runs his 4th generation, Detroit-based, family-owned business here. He’s a product of Detroit Public Schools, and through good times and bad, Jai-Lee has never abandoned Wayne County.

As a young man, Jai-Lee answered the call to help his family’s business when his father became ill. Now…Jai-Lee is once again answering the call, this time to help heal our ailing County. Jai-Lee Dearing is answering the call because he knows the people of Wayne County are the answer, not the problem and that only true citizens can fix Wayne County.

With a “show up early, leave late” work ethic, Jai-Lee Dearing will work tirelessly to make sure the County government does the people’s business and gets the job done, because Jai-Lee Dearing believes This is Our Time and This is Our County, and Together, the people can build a better future.

jobs. growth. opportunity.

Jai-Lee Dearing runs one of the oldest black-owned businesses in Wayne County. As did his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him. For nearly a century the Dearing family has provided quality jobs for hundreds of citizens of Wayne County. As a businessman himself, Jai-Lee understands the concerns of Wayne County’s small business community, and knows they are the true engine of job creation and foundation of Our County.

With pro-growth policies, Jai-Lee Dearing will help give Wayne County’s small businesses the chance to realize their full potential and continue building capital and providing lasting jobs for citizens. Jai-Lee Dearing knows Detroit’s economic revitalization may have started Downtown, but the real work to be done is in our neighborhoods, which Jai-Lee believes are the backbone of Our County and the key to its future.

Jai-Lee will help steer Our County towards a more prosperous tomorrow by harnessing new industries, utilizing tax breaks and encouraging new investment in Wayne County. He will help provide struggling citizens of Wayne County with the opportunities they desperately need. By fostering neighborhood redevelopment through micro-capitalism, brownfield clean-up, urban farming and green housing programs, Jai-Lee Dearing will help create new jobs, lower energy costs for Wayne County’s families and deliver sustainable economic development where it’s needed most.

education. hope. better lives.

"We have to fix our schools now, because every child has promise
and every child has a dream."
               - Jai-Lee Dearing

As a proud product of Detroit Public Schools, Jai-Lee Dearing knows that education creates opportunity, opportunity breeds hope, and hope builds better lives. As Wayne County Commissioner, Jai-Lee will lead the fight for safe, well-maintained public schools that prepare our children for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Our schools are in crisis and that means our kids are in crisis too; roughly 1 out of 4 Detroit students graduate from High School. That’s just about 25%. It’s not good enough for the Wayne County’. It’s not good enough for anywhere. But with some hard work and new ideas, we’re going to turn it around. Jai-Lee Dearing knows that kids only fail after their schools and governments have failed them. He believes in a better future for our children, but the Future must start Now.

Jai-Lee, whose wife is an elementary school teacher, understands that this battle begins by not allowing our teachers to stand alone in the fight for better schools. He knows that parents, teachers and city government all have a role to play in our children’s life of learning.

Our County must repair and reform our schools so that Wayne County students can remain competitive in a 21st century economy, empowered to pursue their dreams. Jai-Lee Dearing knows that when it comes to our schools – failure is not an option.

safe streets. effective services. a commission that works.

"County government has to work for the people. Not itself."
               - Jai-Lee Dearing

Our County cannot face the problems of today and the challenges of tomorrow without the kind of county leadership that delivers for the people. Wayne County law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical technicians will have an ally on the County Government in Jai-Lee Dearing. Jai-Lee will make sure Our County’s first responders get the funding, tools and resources they need to protect our children, safeguard our businesses and bring order to our streets.

Jai-Lee will do the work needed to ensure reliable, responsive and respected public safety for the people of Wayne County. With critical budget and manpower shortfalls affecting so many county services, Jai-Lee knows the job is difficult, but must be done so that Our County’s streets are safe, basic services are provided, and our people are cared for in times of need.

We can’t afford a county government that puts off today’s problems until tomorrow; that means an end to the petty and useless politics of opposition which divide us rather than unite us. We face great challenges in the days ahead, but Jai-Lee Dearing knows that the only way to confront those challenges is together, a county united.

leadership. cooperation. vision.

"Our County faces great challenges, but there is nothing wrong with Wayne County that
our citizens can't fix.""
               - Jai-Lee Dearing

While the people of Wayne County soldier on through these tough times, they must know that help is on the way. Jai-Lee will help reform County government so that it provides the leadership our people need, to give them the chance to succeed that they so deserve. Many of the problems Our County faces today are the result of yesterday’s failed leadership. Jai-Lee Dearing is focused on providing the leadership of tomorrow, leadership that creates the kind of change you can see.

Ours is a great county, with great people, but we must have allies in our neighboring communities that know Our County welcomes their friendship, their business, and their help in making Wayne County the county we All believe it can be. That means making a real commitment to greater regional cooperation within Metro Detroit, but knowing at the same time Our County must Lead, not follow.

Jai-Lee Dearing has a vision for Our County - a vision that will change how others see Wayne County and how Wayne County sees itself. Jai-Lee Dearing’s vision recognizes that our abandoned buildings and brownfields are not liabilities, but opportunities and blank canvasses on which we will design Our new County. Together, with faith and hard work, Jai-Lee knows the people of Wayne County are ready to answer the call and embrace a fresh approach to county government, innovative new ideas, and a “roll-up-the-sleeves” mindset to get the job done because This is Our Time. This is Our County.