Judge Greg Mathis considering run for John Conyers' seat in Congress

Retired 36th District Court Judge Greg Mathis indicated Thursday that he is considering running for retiring Rep. John Conyers' seat in Congress. The syndicated television show judge and philanthropist was on vacation, but said through spokesman and executive assistant Stacy Leak that he is considering the race and would make an announcement soon. If Mathis runs, the star of the long-running reality show "Judge Mathis" would become the best-known person in the race. U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, said if Mathis enters the race he must be serious about the work. “Whoever runs ... has to be committed to doing the hard work in a district that has a lot of needs,” she said. “This job is a hard one because there’s not just one homogeneous community. It’s extremely diverse.” She said that Mathis should not be counted out because of his limited elective experience. “We have seen numerous candidates who have been community organizers or activists who have stepped into the political realm," Lawrence said. "Clearly, Greg Mathis has, through his nonprofit that still is in Detroit, and who still maintains a residence in Detroit  and who has served on the court, has shown compassion and commitment to the community ... really cares about the community."