DETROIT, Jan. 12 -- The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) was pleased to continue its tradition of celebrating the opening of the 2007 North American International Auto Show, with featured speaker the Honorable Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of the city of Detroit. The meeting was co-hosted by the North American International Auto Show.

The Detroit News kicked off the meeting by announcing the winners of its 2007 NAIAS Readers' Choice Awards. The following models took the honors:

Best Value: Ford Fusion
Most Awesome Off-Road: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Grooviest Wheels: Toyota FT-HS
Most Luxurious: Rolls Royce Phantom
Most Earth-Friendly: Chevrolet Volt
Sexiest Vehicle: Jaguar XKR
Most Innovative: Jeep Trailhawk
Plushiest Interior: Mercedes Maybach 62S
Best Curves: Lincoln MKR
Best Family Hauler: Chrysler Town & Country
Best Future Fantasy: Mercedes Ocean Drive
Best of Show: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Mayor Kilpatrick then took the stage, outlining economic developments and structural changes within the city government that will propel Detroit's growth in the coming years. Kilpatrick noted that economic diversification and business attraction are among his main focuses.

"To go after a large corporation in the automotive manufacturing industry would be different than going after Google. And we need to understand the various ways that we need to modify our attraction strategy in the City of Detroit to address emerging concerns of new businesses in these United States and abroad."

Download a broadcast-quality audio file of the above selection from Kilpatrick's remarks. Size: 357 Kb. Duration: 18 seconds.

During the question and answer period following his remarks, Kilpatrick was candid on his relationship with the Detroit Board of Education.

"The city voted 66 percent to 33 percent to not have me involved in education. But when the teachers went on strike, I got 200 letters in my office, phone calls, 16 parents from one of our high schools came to our lobby and said you better do something. So I don’t believe they really want me out. And I think if the crisis gets big enough, they’re going to be down there again, asking me to do something. Right now, what I’m doing is working in a communication type of way with the Board, with the administration, trying to figure out, how can I assist? How can I do the things that I can do? And we’re working together on that. I believe that there’s going to be an incredible moment in history, where we’ll have to come together to fix what’s happening in our school system."

Download a broadcast-quality audio file of the above selection from Kilpatrick's remarks. Size: 909 Kb. Duration: 47 seconds.

Download a print-quality photograph of the panel at the Detroit Economic Club on January 12. Photo credit: Jeff Kowalsky.

The Detroit Economic Club was formed in 1934 as a platform for the discussion and debate of important business, government and social issues. It is known internationally as a top speaking forum for prominent business and government leaders, who address members and their guests at the Club's 35 meetings a season. With more than 2,800 members, the DEC is about vital issues, prominent voices, a commitment to education and inspiring leadership. The Club is proud to have hosted every sitting U.S. President since Richard Nixon and proud to have been ranked among the top speaking platforms for CEOs.