Charlie Beckham is the chief administrative officer and a longtime friend of Mayor Dave Bing. He has been an aide to every Detroit mayor since Coleman Young, except for Dennis Archer, and some have called him the "power behind the throne".
A convicted felon, he spent two years in prison in the 1980s after a federal corruption probe.
Previous positions
He was director of the Department of Water and Sewerage for Young.
Beckham has worked for General Motors.
Other people
- Saul Green, a longtime friend. Currently deputy mayor of the City of Detroit, and United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1994 to 2001.
- William Beckham Sr., his father, an adviser to top United Auto Workers union officials.
- Bill Beckham Jr., his brother, was Young's chief of staff and deputy mayor
- He fired Joe Harris, Ken Cockrel's budget director, and replaced him with Norm White.
Sources
http://detnews.com/article/20090902/METRO01/909020371/Charlie-Beckham--Mayor-Bing-s-go-to-guy
- Judge: Top Bing aide can serve, despite bribery conviction in 1980s, Leonard N. Fleming / The Detroit News
Detroit -- A judge today refused to remove one of Mayor Bing's top appointees, saying Charlie Beckham's federal bribery conviction more than 20 years ago doesn't preclude him from serving in the administration despite a law that called his appointment into question. Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert L. Ziolkowski said case law didn't support Beckham's removal under state statute and that his interpretation of the law is limited to "public officials and people with public offices."
- From exile to gatekeeper: Lewis back on the team, at his familiar position: Bing's right hand. Crain's. 31 July 2011.
