Tests Show Detroit Mayor, 70, Is Likely Father of Boy, 6

In the culmination of one of this city’s hottest stories of the year, Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young found out Friday that he is almost certainly the father of the 6-year-old son of the director of public works for the city of Fontana, Calif.

Young, a 70-year-old bachelor with no other children, is the target of a paternity suit from Annivory Calvert, a 34-year-old former Detroit assistant director of public works, who recently moved to Fontana to accept her current post.

Calvert claims that she had a long-running affair with Young and gave birth to his son while she worked for the city of Detroit.

Young has so far refused to acknowledge the child. But on Friday the results of two blood tests--including one commissioned by Young and his attorneys--virtually confirmed that Young is the father of Calvert’s son.

One of the tests, conducted by Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich., determined that the odds that Young was not the father were “75 million to 1.” The test results were released at a news conference by Noel Keane, attorney for Calvert, who filed the paternity lawsuit in January.

Young was out of town on vacation Friday. His attorneys said that Young would wait until the results from a third blood test are available before announcing whether he accepts the child as his.

The paternity suit has been on hold in court here pending the results of the blood tests. Keane said he and Calvert now plan to wait for Young’s attorneys to open negotiations on a possible out-of-court settlement.

Calvert, who would not speak to reporters Friday, is seeking both Young’s acknowledgement of paternity and unspecified child support payments.

The suit has made the dispute one of Detroit’s biggest stories. Young has become the subject of countless fatherhood jokes--especially since Keane released photos showing the mayor, dressed in pajamas, holding the child.

Still, few political leaders in Detroit, where Young has held an iron grip on City Hall for an unprecedented four terms, wanted to comment Friday. “I have no idea how it will play with the people of the community, I just prefer to leave it between the two parties involved,” said Mel Ravitz, a City Council member.

The case has come in the wake of a series of political setbacks for Young and in the midst of his most difficult reelection contest since he first took office in 1973.

Detroit’s epidemic of drug-related crime, along with a massive exodus of jobs and population from the city to the suburbs, have left Young increasingly vulnerable to challengers. At least three now plan to run against him in this fall’s election.

But Young’s potential opponents hesitated Friday to exploit the paternity case.

“I really feel the major issues facing the city are more important,” said City Council President Erma Henderson, who plans to run against Young. “I’ll let the citizens decide how they want to feel about it.”

“I don’t know that it will have any impact on how the vote will go,” added Tom Barrow, a Detroit businessman who also has announced his candidacy. “I don’t want to pass judgment.”