Mayoral election in Detroit, Michigan (2021)

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Click here for coverage of the August 3, 2021 primary election.
2017
2021 Detroit elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: April 20, 2021
Primary election: August 3, 2021
General election: November 2, 2021
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2021

Incumbent Mike Duggan and Anthony Adams ran in the general election for mayor of Detroit, Michigan, on November 2, 2021. Major issues in the race were economic development, affordable housing, and police-community relations.[1][2]

Before becoming mayor, Duggan was president and CEO of Detroit Medical Center from 2004 to 2012.[3] He was assistant corporation counsel for Wayne County from 1985 to 1986, deputy Wayne County executive from 1987 to 2000, and Wayne County prosecutor from 2001 to 2003. Duggan was first elected mayor in 2013 when he defeated opponent Benny Napoleon (D) with 55% of the vote to Napoleon’s 45%. In 2017, he was re-elected by a margin of nearly 44 points, defeating Coleman Young II (D) with 71.6% of the vote to Young’s 27.8%. Duggan said that, if re-elected in 2021, he would "work every day to continue to make sure every neighborhood has a future and every Detroiter has a true opportunity to achieve your dreams."[4] He also said he would work with the city council and manufacturers to bring more high-paying jobs into the city.[5]

Adams was an attorney as of the primary and served as deputy mayor of Detroit under former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D).[6] He was also an executive assistant to Mayor Coleman Young, was a board member and general counsel for Detroit Public Schools, and was interim director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Adams said his "extensive leadership experience, unwavering commitment, and enlightened skill-set uniquely position him to move the city of Detroit forward" and that he was "committed to serving the ordinary people of Detroit and not Special Interest Groups.”[7] Adams also said he would support a universal basic income plan and an income-based water billing system and emphasized early intervention as a means to reduce crime.

The city of Detroit uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.


Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Mayor of Detroit

Incumbent Mike Duggan defeated Anthony Adams and Cheryl Webb in the general election for Mayor of Detroit on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mike_Duggan.png
Mike Duggan (Nonpartisan)
 
75.3
 
69,353
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Anthony_Adams_Michigan.jpg
Anthony Adams (Nonpartisan)
 
24.3
 
22,384
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CherylWebb.jpg
Cheryl Webb (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
24
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
384

Total votes: 92,145
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Detroit

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Detroit on August 3, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mike_Duggan.png
Mike Duggan (Nonpartisan)
 
72.4
 
50,853
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Anthony_Adams_Michigan.jpg
Anthony Adams (Nonpartisan)
 
10.0
 
7,014
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Tom_Barrow.png
Tom Barrow (Nonpartisan)
 
6.0
 
4,237
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MyyaJones2.jpg
Myya Jones (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
5.0
 
3,536
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Kiawana Brown (Nonpartisan)
 
1.9
 
1,303
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/dwilc2.JPG
D. Etta Wilcoxon (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
1.3
 
894
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JasahnLarsosa.jpeg
Jasahn Larsosa (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
1.1
 
797
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Art Tyus (Nonpartisan)
 
0.9
 
600
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Danetta Simpson (Nonpartisan)
 
0.7
 
476
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Charleta McInnis (Nonpartisan)
 
0.6
 
389
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joel Haashiim (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
3
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Winnie Imbuchi (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
2
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CherylWebb.jpg
Cheryl Webb (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
2
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Tyrone Perry (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
1
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jacob Johnson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
1
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Articia_BomerMI.jpeg
Articia Bomer (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Stefany Washington (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Doris Anderson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
William Watson (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jerome Cobb Jr. (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Carolyn Huff (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Michael Harris (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
124

Total votes: 70,232
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[8]

Mike Duggan

Image of Mike Duggan

WebsiteFacebook

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Mayor of Detroit (Assumed office: 2014)

Biography:  Duggan received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1980 and a J.D. from the university's law school in 1983. He was assistant corporation counsel for Wayne County from 1985 to 1986 and deputy Wayne County executive from 1987 to 2000. He also served as Wayne County prosecutor from 2001 to 2003 and worked as president and CEO of Detroit Medical Center from 2004 to 2012.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


Duggan said that he would "work every day to continue to make sure every neighborhood has a future and every Detroiter has a true opportunity to achieve your dreams."


Duggan said that he would work with the city council and manufacturers to bring more high-paying jobs to the city.  


Duggan said that his campaign would be focused on working with people he may disagree with instead of attacking them. 


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Detroit in 2021.

Anthony Adams

Image of Anthony Adams

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Adams completed a B.S. in Urban Management and Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. He worked as an attorney and served as deputy mayor of Detroit under former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.



Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.


Adams said he would not rely on donations from interest groups in his campaign and that “I am committed to serving the ordinary people of Detroit and not Special Interest Groups.”


Adams said that his "extensive leadership experience, unwavering commitment, and enlightened skill-set uniquely position him to move the city of Detroit forward."


Adams said that more must be done to protect seniors in Detroit and that he would focus on securing grants and developing additional programs to support them. 


Show sources

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Detroit in 2021.

Noteworthy primary endorsements

This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Primary endorsements
Endorsement Duggan Adams
Newspapers and editorials
Detroit Free Press[9]
Elected officials
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)[10]
Individuals
Former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D)[11]
Organizations
13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization[12]
Wayne County Black Democratic Caucus[13]
The Original East Side Slate[14]
Fannie Lou Hamer PAC[15]
Detroit Regional Chamber PAC[16]


Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Mike Duggan

Campaign website

Duggan’s campaign website featured the following video:[17]


Anthony Adams

Campaign website

Adams' campaign website stated the following:

  • Reduce Crime & Reform Police
We, Detroit, need a leader who will work to ensure Detroiters live in a safe community where people can raise their families, and their property is safe. We Deserve Better! An Anthony Adams administration will address reducing crime and reforming police by:
  • Adopting a more aggressive approach to enhance early intervention versus surveillance strategies of the population.
  • Creating Community Intervention Specialist who are proactive in addressing the root issues of conflict in our communities. The Community Intervention Specialist will work with existing network of community organizations that focus on intervention and conflict resolution.
  • Accurately report crime statistics, so that citizens have faith in what’s reported.
  • Refining the approach to enforcing laws by decriminalizing possession of small amounts of certain drugs. Shifting the focus from criminal prosecution to civil infraction + use of specialized courts to address underlying issues of addiction, homelessness, and hopelessness.
  • Reducing response times in responding to priority calls for service. Participating in the Green Light program should not be the determining factor in how the Detroit Police Department (DPD) responds to service.
  • Removing anti-accountability provisions from the DPD’s union contract.
  • Creating alternative methodologies for responding to non-violent service calls.
  • Extending training to officers, which includes a community service component to ensure officers understand the community they serve.
  • Providing a pathway to productivity to help those who have fallen through the cracks become productive citizens to reduce engagement with DPD.
  • Hosting on-going (Get your Sh!t in Order) General Amnesty & Expungement Day’s to help those with criminal records.
  • Working with local and state leaders to reduce outstanding tickets and traffic warrants + help address misdemeanor violations and outstanding felony warrants.
  • Minimizing the enforcement of minor infractions related to poverty – such as broken taillights and equipment – as primary reasons for traffic stops.
  • Enhancing mental health services for police officers. Officer wellness is the key to the retention of officers.
  • Increasing the number of officers living in the city by offering a “resident benefit” stipend – similar to firefighters.
  • Protect Our Senior Citizens
We, Detroit, need an innovative leader who will take bold actions to address the older residents’ modern and diverse needs in the city. We Deserve Better! An Anthony Adams administration will focus on supporting seniors by:
  • Restoring grant opportunities to protect and stabilize seniors in their homes. Loans are OUT!
  • Enhancing community contact with seniors, so no one feels lonely.
  • Expanding opportunities for seniors to engage in meaningful activities in the community. Their skills and services need to be utilized in a much more robust way.
  • Enhancing opportunities for older adult students, and encouraging the value of intergenerational learning.
  • Launching and increasing investment in age-focused incubators and accelerators creating new businesses with universal design in mind.
  • Working with community agencies to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud, and scams to protect our seniors.
  • Working with state and federal agents to tackle hunger by enrolling older adults in the SNAP and food stamps programs.
  • Improve Detroiters’ Quality of Life
We, Detroit, need a leader who will connect the dots of commonsense programs to support real access to jobs, education, environmental justice, and comprehensive healthcare, including mental health and substance abuse issues. We Deserve Better! An Anthony Adams administration will focus on improving Detroiters’ Quality of Life by:
  • Addressing issues of poverty plaguing our city.
  • Attack structural racism issues, which inhibit and restrict investment in working-class people and businesses in the city. The structural racism issues of bank lending and insurance redlining are at the top of the list.
  • Working to create an income-based water billing system like other best-of-class systems recently established throughout the country.
  • Advancing “Universal Basic Income,” so Detroiters who are underemployed receive a living wage.
  • Establishing a “Chief Educational Officer” who will advocate for children in public- and charter-schools.
  • Bridging the ‘Digital Divide” by enhancing wireless options to increase Detroit residents’ access.
  • Enhancing library services.
  • Supporting reform measures, which require charter schools operating in Detroit to have boards comprised of all city residents.
  • Continuing the pause on all tax foreclosure auctions, indefinitely, until significant reforms are made to the tax assessment and tax auction process.
  • Dismantling the Detroit Land Bank Authority and replacing it with a more accountable and responsive entity that encourages homeownership – with a targeted goal of 25,000 new homeowners.
  • Vigorously, fighting against modifications to existing industrial permits, which release high levels of toxic discharges in Detroit.
  • Improving and integrating mental health services for all residents.
  • Focusing efforts and leveraging partnerships with local hospitals and other medical providers to create healthy lifestyles for residents.
  • Empower Detroit
We, Detroit, need a leader who understands that opportunity is not only about personal success but also the success of a community. Detroit needs a leader who knows we are better off when everyone can contribute and participate regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, and economic status. We Deserve Better! An Anthony Adams administration will focus on empowering all residents in Detroit by:
  • Respecting the people who live here.
  • Addressing the issue of over taxation of Detroit residents.
  • Enhancing DDOT transportation services, and mobility.
  • Working to retain and expand existing businesses with financial support and lending programs.
  • Restoring equity to existing businesses that have never received financial subsidies, but continue to provide goods and services to the community.
  • Dramatically reduce corporate funding that does not benefit the community, but takes away resources from our libraries and schools.
  • Supporting reform measures, which require charter schools operating in Detroit to have boards comprised of all city residents.
  • Continuing the pause on all tax foreclosure auctions, indefinitely, until significant reforms are made to the tax assessment and tax auction process.
  • Dismantling the Detroit Land Bank Authority and replacing it with a more accountable and responsive entity that encourages homeownership – with a targeted goal of 25,000 new homeowners.
  • Vigorously, fighting against modifications to existing industrial permits, which release high levels of toxic discharges in Detroit.
  • Improving and integrating mental health services for all residents.
  • Focusing efforts and leveraging partnerships with local hospitals and other medical providers to create healthy lifestyles for residents.

[18]

—Anthony Adams' campaign website (2021)[19]


Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Mike Duggan

Supporting Duggan

"Detroit Seniors for Duggan" - Duggan campaign ad, released June 29, 2021
"100 Block Club Presidents & Community Leaders Endorse Mike Duggan" - Duggan campaign ad, released June 16, 2021

Anthony Adams

Supporting Adams

"Lack of Diversity" - Adams campaign ad, released April 28, 2021
"Crisis Management" - Adams campaign ad, released April 26, 2021
"Interim Director of the Detroit Water and Sewage Department" - Adams campaign ad, released April 26, 2021
"As DPS School Board President I Fought for Our Kids" - Adams campaign ad, released April 26, 2021


Polls

As of August 19, 2021, no polls had been released for this race.

Mayoral partisanship

See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2021)

Mayoral elections were held in 28 of the 100 largest U.S. cities in 2021. Once mayors elected in 2021 assumed office, the mayors of 64 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party.

The following top-100 mayoral offices changed partisan control in 2021:

Campaign finance

Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the Wayne County Clerk's office. Click here to access those reports.


What was at stake?

Report a story for this election

Ballotpedia researches issues in local elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many areas. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local election. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.

Candidate survey

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Click here to fill out the survey.

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: Michigan elections, 2021

What's on your ballot?
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Election history

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Detroit, Michigan (2017)

The city of Detroit, Michigan, held elections for mayor, city council, city clerk, and the Detroit Board of Police Commisisoners on November 7, 2017. A primary election was held on August 8, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 25, 2017.[21]

Incumbent Mike Duggan defeated Coleman Young II in the general election for mayor of Detroit.[22]

Mayor of Detroit, General Election, 2017
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Mike Duggan Incumbent 71.64% 72,439
Coleman Young II 27.84% 28,149
Write-in votes 0.53% 532
Total Votes 101,120
Source: Wayne County, Michigan, "2017 November 7th General & Special General Election Official Results," November 7, 2017


The following candidates ran in the primary election for mayor of Detroit.[23]

Mayor of Detroit, Primary Election, 2017
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Mike Duggan Incumbent 67.72% 43,519
Green check mark transparent.png Coleman Young II 26.72% 17,170
Donna Pitts 0.82% 528
Edward Dean 0.67% 433
Danetta Simpson 0.66% 422
Curtis Greene 0.48% 307
Angelo Brown 0.35% 228
Articia Bomer 0.31% 201
Write-in votes 2.27% 1,459
Total Votes 64,267
Source: Wayne County Clerk, "2017 Primary Official Results," accessed August 23, 2017

2013

See also: Detroit mayoral election, 2013

General election

Duggan defeated Napoleon in the general election on November 5, 2013.[24]

Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, 2013
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Nonpartisan Green check mark transparent.pngMike Duggan 54.9% 74,254
     Nonpartisan Benny Napoleon 44.7% 60,448
     Nonpartisan Write-in 0.3% 455
Total Votes 135,157
Source: City of Detroit Department of Elections

Primary election

Duggan, along with Benny Napoleon, qualified to move on to the general election for Mayor of Detroit after the August 6 primary.

Detroit, Michigan Mayoral Primary Election, 2013
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Nonpartisan Green check mark transparent.pngMike Duggan 51.7% 48,716
     Nonpartisan Green check mark transparent.pngBenny Napoleon 30.1% 28,391
     Nonpartisan Krystal A. Crittendon 5.6% 5,311
     Nonpartisan Lisa L. Howze 4.9% 4,591
     Nonpartisan Tom Barrow 3.9% 3,699
     Nonpartisan All other candidates 3.7% 3,531
Total Votes 94,239
Source: ‘’’Mayor, City of Detroit Election Certification’’’ August 6, 2013. accessed October 14, 2013

About the city

See also: Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is a city in Wayne County, Michigan. As of 2020, its population was 639,111.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Detroit uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[25]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Detroit, Michigan
Detroit Michigan
Population 639,111 10,077,331
Land area (sq mi) 138 56,609
Race and ethnicity**
White 14.4% 77.6%
Black/African American 77.1% 13.6%
Asian 1.9% 3.2%
Native American 0.4% 0.5%
Pacific Islander 0% 0%
Two or more 2.4% 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 7.7% 5.2%
Education
High school graduation rate 81.9% 91.3%
College graduation rate 16.4% 30%
Income
Median household income $32,498 $59,234
Persons below poverty level 33.2% 13.7%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Detroit, Michigan Michigan Municipal government Other local coverage
Detroit seal.jpg
Seal of Michigan.png
Municipal Government Final.png
Local Politics Image.jpg

External links

Footnotes

  1. Detroit Free Press, "Duggan 3.0: In a time of crisis, Detroit's mayor has earned a third term," July 4, 2021
  2. U.S. News & World Report, "A Tale of Two Motor Cities," January 20, 2020
  3. Money Inc., "10 Things You Didn't Know About Mike Duggan," May 26, 2020
  4. Duggan for Detroit, "Home," accessed May 26, 2021
  5. Duggan for Detroit, "Home," accessed May 26, 2021
  6. Detroit Free Press, "The campaign for Detroit's next mayor is underway. Here are the issues to watch.," May 25, 2021
  7. Anthony Adams for Mayor, "His Story," accessed May 26, 2021
  8. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  9. Deadline Detroit, "Mayor Duggan 'Has Always Been At His Best In A Five-Alarm Crisis,' Says Detroit Free Press Endorsement," July 4, 2021
  10. Detroit Metro Times, "Duggan seeks third term in 2021 with an endorsement from an unlikely place," December 10, 2020
  11. Detroit Metro Times, "Duggan seeks third term in 2021 with an endorsement from an unlikely place," December 10, 2020
  12. Duggan for Detroit, "13th Congressional District, Wayne County Black Dems, The Original East Side Slate Endorse Mayor Mike Duggan," June 24, 2021
  13. Duggan for Detroit, "13th Congressional District, Wayne County Black Dems, The Original East Side Slate Endorse Mayor Mike Duggan," June 24, 2021
  14. Duggan for Detroit, "13th Congressional District, Wayne County Black Dems, The Original East Side Slate Endorse Mayor Mike Duggan," June 24, 2021
  15. Duggan for Detroit, "Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee Endorse Mayor Mike Duggan," June 22, 2021
  16. Crain's Detroit Business, "Detroit Regional Chamber PAC endorses Duggan for third term," January 19, 2021
  17. Duggan for Detroit, “Home,” accessed May 26, 2021
  18. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  19. Anthony Adams for Mayor, “Priorities,” accessed May 26, 2021
  20. Las Vegas Review-Journal, "North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee says he’s becoming a Republican," April 6, 2021
  21. Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces re-election bid," February 4, 2017
  22. Detroit Free Press, "It's official: 8 Detroit mayoral candidates will be on primary ballot," May 11, 2017
  23. Detroit Free Press, "It's official: 8 Detroit mayoral candidates will be on primary ballot," May 11, 2017
  24. MLive, "Mike Duggan projected to win Detroit mayoral election," November 5, 2013
  25. Detroit City Charter, Sec. 5.101-107 and 4.101-122, accessed August 27, 2014 (dead link)