Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, considered to be the frontrunner in Tuesday's mayoral election, is fending off accusations that a personal relationship she had years ago with a demolition contractor crossed an ethical line.

At issue is the relationship Sheffield had with Brian McKinney, owner of Detroit-based demolition firm Gayanga, which the city recently suspended for allegedly using "contaminated dirt" to backfill the sites. Over the years, the City of Detroit has awarded McKinney's company at least $37.2 million through 15 contracts to demolish blighted homes. Those individual contracts required City Council approval.

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