I'm sure he's sorry he got caught.
Kilpatrick apologizes to Detroit, but says: 'I would never quit on you'January 30, 2008
By BILL McGRAW
Speaking at length about the text-message scandal for the first time publicly Wednesday night, as he held hands with his wife Carlita, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick apologized repeatedly to residents, supporters, opponents, his wife and his sons for what he called "the embarrassment and disappointment" of the past few days.
"I want to start tonight by saying to the citizens of this great city: I'm sorry," Kilpatrick said in a live television address from his church.
In a nod to the legal peril he faces, Kilpatrick never actually said what he was apologizing for. The closest he came to mentioning lying in court last summer about his affair with then-chief of staff Christine Beatty was a reference to "very grown up things" he has had to discuss with his twin sons in the past week.
Kilpatrick also squarely rejected rumors that he might resign. "I would never quit on you," he declared. "Ever."
Appearing subdued and at times somber in a dramatic moment of recent city history, the mayor focused almost entirely on the impact of the controversy on his family and marriage.
"To all of you who have believed in what we have been doing in this city since 2002, to all of you who have believed in me and my leadership, to all of you who have stuck with me through very difficult times, to all of you who have prayed for me, I'm sorry."
Carlita Kilpatrick talked about the pain of the past few days.
"Like all marriages, ours is not perfect," she said. "But through our commitment to God and each other, my husband and I will get through this. Yes, I am angry, I am hurt, and I am disappointed. But there is no question I love my husband."
The mayor mostly has been out of sight for a week, ever since the Free Press reported that it had obtained nearly 14,000 text messages from Beatty's city-issued pager in 2002-2003. The messages showed that, contrary to Kilpatrick's and Beatty's under-oath testimony in a police whistle-blower trial last summer, they were involved in a sexual affair.
The messages also showed they misled jurors at the trial when they testified they never fired Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown.
Jurors awarded Brown and another ex-cop, Harold Nelthrope, a combined $6.5 million, accepting their argument that Kilpatrick retaliated against them for pursuing an investigation of the mayor's inner circle that might have exposed the love affair.
In October, Kilpatrick abruptly agreed to settle that case, and another involving a third officer, for $8.4 million, rather than appeal. After legal fees, the litigation has cost the city more than $9 million.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced last week that her office has opened an investigation.
Kilpatrick did not mention Beatty in the speech. She resigned Monday. And in avoiding talking about the legal and financial details of the situation, the mayor cited Worthy's probe.
"Because there are legal matters pending at this moment, unfortunately I am unable to discuss any of those issues at this time," he said.
"Most of all tonight, I want to make a public apology to my entire family, and specifically to the four people who I love the most in this world," said the mayor, returning to the only theme of the 12-minute speech.
"First, I want to apologize to my sons, Jelani, Jalil and Jonas. For the first time in my life I had to have a conversation with my 12-year-old twin sons about very grown up things. It was without a doubt the hardest conversation that I've ever had in my entire life.
"Finally, and most important, I want to make a public apology to my wife, Carlita, who I fell in love with when I was 19 years old. We decided to build a family together and we did that. Our marriage has not been perfect, but it has been great."
The mayor and his wife spoke to a lone television camera in a mostly empty banquet room in the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ on the city's west side. There was no audience on hand, and reporters were barred from the speech, which was aired live on Detroit radio and television.
The Kilpatricks talked in detail about their marriage, and the way it has been opened for public view.
"This has been a situation where, yes, it's been embarrassing, yes it's been painful," the mayor said. "But through all of that, through the grace of God, we've also had a feeling of thankfulness and freedom. We have committed to moving forward together to make our marriage better and stronger."
Kilpatrick said that last weekend was the first time since he took office in 2002 that he put everything on hold and focused only on his family. He said he understood Detroit residents have been wanting to hear from him, but he had to attend to his loved ones first.
"I want to thank the people of Detroit for their patience in allowing us that time. We as a family needed to do that," he said.
Kilpatrick said he told his sons that when you make a mistake, "you learn from it, you get up, you dust yourself off, and you keep moving forward."
He added: "Detroit, I am determined that we will keep moving forward. I am determined to continue the tremendous progress we are making in this city."
For a moment, Kilpatrick switched into what seemed like campaign mode, saying Detroit was making progress even in the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression.
"Detroit, together we have managed to do great things," he said. "We have paved more streets than ever. We have built more new houses than ever. We have balanced our budget and wiped out a $300-million deficit.
"We have developed 75 buildings downtown large and small. We have built seven new hotels. We have built three new rec centers in neighborhoods that had not seen rec centers in 20 years. We are building out our riverfront. And we are not stopping now.
"Detroit, please continue to pray for our family, for our city and our continued progress," he said.
"God bless you Detroit. I love you," the mayor said in conclusion. "I'll see you at work tomorrow."
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/NEWS01/80130060
