Former Warren Mayor Jim Fouts running for the Michigan House

Lansing — Jim Fouts, the former longtime mayor of Warren, filed paperwork Friday to run for the Michigan House this year as a Democrat, challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike McFall of Hazel Park.

Fouts served as the mayor in Michigan's third largest city for 16 years, but the Court of Appeals ruled in 2023 that he couldn't seek a fifth term because of Warren's term limit policy.

In an interview, Fouts said he jogs twice a day, is a workaholic and wants to continue his time in public service.

"I am not ready to retire," Fouts said.

In November, Fouts, who is 81 years old, told The Detroit News people had approached him about running for a few elected offices, including the Michigan House, Macomb County Commission and U.S. Congress.

"Those are all possibilities," Fouts said. “But I haven’t ruled anything in or anything out. People feel there’s a large majority of people out there that would vote for me because people like independent people like me, and they like mavericks.”

Fouts said he's now running as a Democrat because he cares about protecting democracy, is concerned about global warming and believes the U.S. should defend other democratic governments internationally.

“There’s a number areas that I seem to be more comfortable with the Democratic Party than I would be with the Republican Party,” Fouts said.

He noted that he introduced Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who was seeking the Democratic nomination for president, at a rally in 2016.

The 14th District in Metro Detroit was one of the legislative districts that changed in a round of court-ordered map drawing, finalized at the end of March. The district now features a portion of Warren, but also reaches to Madison Heights.

McFall, who is in his first term in the House, said he had heard rumors about Fouts running and labeled the decision from Fouts as "interesting."

"He’s not a real Democrat," McFall said, referring to the fact that Fouts has touted his "independent" mindset.

McFall said he has worked in the House to help his district and has a record that he believes will help him win.

Mike Radtke, a Democratic political consultant and Sterling Heights City Council member, said it was a travesty that Fouts was running as a Democrat. Decades ago, Fouts ran as a Republican for a seat in the Legislature, and he has not been heavily involved in the local Democratic Party, Radtke said.

"Like his age, his ideas are old, and it's time for him to retire," Radtke said.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

Staff Writer Anne Snabes contributed.