We already did a pulse check on what our readers are looking for in Flint City Council candidates a couple of months ago, so we might as well get some feedback on the mayoral race as well.
Four candidates officially qualified for the primary ballot on August 4, and they offer significantly different approaches. Two of them — incumbent Mayor Sheldon Neeley and Sixth Ward Councilwoman Tonya Burns — are known commodities politically speaking. Neeley is trying to become the first Flint mayor to win a third term since Woodrow Stanley won re-election in 1999 (he was later recalled before that term ended). Burns was elected to represent the sixth ward in 2021, and has been a frequent Neeley critic during her time on the City Council, most recently leading a motion to subpoena Neeley for questioning in front of the Council over questions about the city’s budget.
Roshanda Womack is a newcomer to local politics, but not to Flint. She’s been a longtime community activist and advocate, counselor, and pastor, among other roles in the city. Micaiah Owens, an attorney, is new to Flint and to politics. In responses to Facebook commenters, he said he’s lived in the city for about two years.
So, four different candidates with different attributes. There’s a survey link below to tell us what you think. Everything is anonymous. I’ll compile answers and share them in a follow-up in a few days. But, because I believe in transparency and am a Flint resident and voter myself, here’s what I’m looking for in any candidate I ultimately support.
* The mayor should work with the city council as a co-equal branch of government. This means regularly appearing at council meetings, regularly presenting detailed updates on budget, public safety, blight, infrastructure concerns, etc., and making that information available to the public as well.
* A detailed breakdown of how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were spent and what remains. Anyone who watches City Council meetings, or even talks to people in the community, knows that there are constant debates and accusations about how Flint has or has not spent the nearly $95 million in ARPA funds the city received. The easiest way to stop the conspiracies? Publish the receipts and details. And this goes beyond just ARPA. Flint has a real political problem with rumors and innuendo. Residents have good reason to be skeptical of anything any governmental body tells them. Rebuild the trust by adopting a consistent, across-the-board policy of radical transparency. If there’s nothing to hide, then don’t hide it.
* Flint is a multi-faith city. I have no objection to anyone’s personal faith or expression of it. However, political leaders centering their faith while serving in public, elected roles that represent people of many different backgrounds is inappropriate. Full stop. Christian Nationalist influences have dangerously infiltrated layers of government ranging from local all the way to federal, philosophically trying to encode a specific set of religious beliefs into our laws. Any politician not specifically aware of this, not calling it exactly what it is, and not able to name why it is dangerous and unconstitutional is not a politician I can support.
* I would love to see a public safety plan that goes beyond just “we need to hire more officers.” Baltimore, for example, has had great success with reducing its crime rate through community and neighborhood-level initiatives. I want to see a public safety plan in Flint that includes some of those elements.
* Honestly, start with basics. There are immense challenges in this city, complex problems that no matter who wins this election won’t and can’t change overnight. Some problems will likely take generations to solve. That’s daunting and overwhelming when we let it consume us. But we can also significantly improve quality of life in the city by starting small: support more grassroots neighborhood groups who are trying to keep areas around their homes clean and step up blight enforcement for offenders who regularly undue their work with illegal dumping and destruction of public property; focus police resources on simple traffic enforcement, so people don’t have to worry about their kids playing in the front yard because reckless people speed, ignore stop signs, and show no care for neighborhoods they fly through; work on removing outdated ordinances or other barriers that hinder small businesses from launching in Flint, or people from building new housing here. There are dozens of small things that are lighter lifts than the giant things, and accomplishing those things can build more momentum to go after the big challenges.
* Show you are an advocate for living here by actually showing up in Flint spaces. The mayor of this city should be visible, and not just in an official capacity. Flint is small enough that we should see the mayor at local restaurants, or a local bookstore, or hanging out at our many festivals. Be the biggest advocate for spending time in the city.
I’ll stop myself, because I could probably double the size of my list. I’m most interested in hearing from other residents, let us know what you think below!
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