 This special election was mandated by Detroit's City Charter in order to determine who will serve out the remaining months in the term of former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who resigned in September 2008.Incumbent mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr., who was previously president of the Detroit City Council, had become acting mayor upon Kilpatrick's resignation.Incumbent mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr., who as president of the Detroit City Council became acting mayor upon Kilpatrick's resignation, was seeking reelection.