Former police chief James Craig says Detroit should elect him mayor based on his ties to the city and history as a public servant, not his political party. Why it matters: Craig is the only stated Republican so far in the nonpartisan race to lead a heavily Democratic city.

As part of his mayoral campaign, Craig says he's "promising a mayoral administration rooted in integrity, stability, and economic opportunity for all Detroiters."

The former Detroit police chief spoke with the media from a small business Wednesday, officially launching his mayoral campaign.