Janeé Ayers

Janeé L. Ayers (born October 10, 1981) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. In 2015, Ayers was appointed to Detroit City Council as an at large member after the resignation of Saunteel Jenkins.

Janeé Ayers was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 10, 1981. Her mother Shirlene, is a retired Detroit Public Schools teacher and Detroit American Federation of Teachers (DFT) member. She has four siblings, three of whom are school teachers in the Greater Metro Detroit area.

Ayers grew up in North Rosedale Park on the city’s Northwest side and graduated from Renaissance High School. She went on to attend Bowling Green State University and earned her degree in Political Science and Public Policy in 2003.

Before being appointed to city council, Ayers worked for the Detroit Recreation Department and was a high school teacher for Detroit Public Schools teaching science at Millennium High School until its closing in 2007. During this time she was a member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Ayers, an active union member since 1999, then focused her attention to the labor community and started working at MGM Grand Detroit. She joined UNITE HERE! Local 24, was elected recording secretary, and quickly became the youngest officer on the bargaining team. A few short years later, she was elected Vice President of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO.

After the resignation of Saunteel Jenkins, Detroit City Council entered a long appointment process to fill the at large seat. Over 135 Detroit residents applied for the position, including former State representatives, a Wayne County Commissioner and multiple former city council candidates. From this pool, Ayers was nominated by Council President Brenda Jones and Council Member Gabe Leland to advance to a round of 17 candidates who were publicly interviewed. At the end of a lengthy voting process, Ayers was appointed to City Council on February 17, 2015 by a supermajority vote of 6-2.

Committee assignments

Ayers is a member of the following City Council committees:

• Budget, Finance and Audit (Vice-Chair)
• Public Health, and Safety (Vice-Chair)
• Internal Operations
• Rules

• "Budget, Fianance and Audit". 
• "Public Health, and Safety". 
• "Internal Operations". 
• "Rules". 

• 2016 Primary Election, Detroit City Council At-Large (Non-Partisan)
  • Janeé L. Ayers, 47%
  • David Alexander Bullock, 22%
  • John W. Cromer, 6%
  • Sigmunt John Szczepkowski Jr, 5%
  • Eric Williams, 17%
  • Write In, .54%
• 2016 General Election, Detroit City Council At-Large (Non-Partisan)
  • Janeé L. Ayers, 61%
  • David Alexander Bullock, 38%
  • Write In, 1%

- 2016 Michigan Chronicle Woman of Excellence