A Democratic congressional candidate in Michigan who crowed about “cracking down on slumlords” took in as much as $50,000 in annual rental revenue whereas his personal properties bought dinged for code violations, in accordance with data reviewed by The Submit.
State Sen. Sean McCann, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District, is the proprietor of McLam Properties LLC, which controls two properties in Kalamazoo.
Each McCann and the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee (DCCC) have touted the candidate’s dedication to tenants’ pursuits in separate statements.
However in accordance with state data and federal monetary disclosures, McCann earns between $15,001 and $50,000 yearly from rental properties whose points have taken far longer to resolve than laws he’s pushed would have required.
One of many leases failed a Kalamazoo metropolis code inspection this previous January for varied hearth hazards — together with crowding round fuel heating items, an expired extinguisher, lacking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and “extreme” use of extension cords as an alternative to everlasting wiring.
These infractions took 4 months to resolve, in accordance with rental certificates obtained by The Submit.
Data additionally present McCann’s different property bought slapped with not less than 11 violations in August 2024 that weren’t absolutely resolved for 17 months.
That property had been cited by a metropolis inspector for “harmful” electrical methods, an expired hearth extinguisher, a lacking carbon monoxide detector, and “peeling” wall coverings and paint.
McCann has served within the Michigan Senate since January 2019 and sponsored laws that might have penalized landlords for being too gradual to repair code violations.
The so-called Tenant Empowerment Bundle would have pressured repairs inside 48 hours to circumstances deemed “hazardous to life or imminently hazardous to the well being and security” of renters.
Different repairs would have been mandated inside seven days of a violation — and tenants would have been allowed to “withhold hire” by depositing cash into an escrow account that might solely have been launched to landlords as soon as the fixes are completed.
The Tenant Empowerment Bundle has brought on bitter debate inside the Lansing legislature because it was first proposed in June 2024, however has but to change into legislation.
All code violations flagged at McCann-owned properties have been mounted inside the timelines required by present legislation and laws.
“Sean and McLam Properties LLC follows the legislation and absolutely complies with the Metropolis of Kalamazoo ordinances,” mentioned McCann marketing campaign spokesperson Simone Archer-Kraus.
“Sean has a historical past and voting document of siding with Michigan households to face as much as slumlords and in Congress he’ll hold pushing for safer and extra reasonably priced housing — as a result of whereas [Rep.] Invoice Huizenga [R-Mich.] sells luxurious condos and contours his personal pockets, Sean works to make life higher for normal individuals.”
McCann defeated Diop Harris, a former legislative correspondent for ex-US Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), within the Tuesday major by greater than 30 share factors.
Huizenga, 57, is in search of an eighth time period in Congress, having first been elected in 2010.
The Fourth District is considered one of three Republican-held Michigan seats eyed by the DCCC to flip because the occasion tries to regain the Home after 4 years within the minority.
