Meet the Candidates for Mayor, City of Flint
In one of the most complicated local election cycles in recent Flint history, an East Village Magazine team attempted to assemble information for our readers about all of the candidates whose names will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.
All nine city council seats are up for grabs. One incumbent, Vicki Van Buren, was ousted by one vote in the Aug. 5 primary; seven of the others are facing challengers. See a separate post here for more information about the 17 candidates for city council.
Ninth Ward Councilman Scott Kincaid will not be on the council ballot, since a court decided that he could not run for two offices at once. A frequent opponent of the mayor, Kincaid chose to run for mayor and is thus included in this post.
Below are responses from mayoral candidates to our questions. We successfully connected with 13 of the 18. Two candidates, Brent Jaworski and Chris Del Morone, contacted us after the deadline for our October print edition and thus appear here only. Those we did not receive responses from included Ray Hall, Ronald D. Higgerson, Ellery Johnson, Al Wamsley and Angela Ward.
We posed four questions to the group. EVM editors have lightly edited for clarity and readability. Grammatical and word choices are as the candidates wrote them or spoke them to our reporters. The candidates’ responses are listed alphabetically.
This is an election that could change the face of Flint city government as the city continues its recoveries and developments. It’s an important time to read up on the candidates and cast your ballot Nov. 7.
David Davenport
David Davenport
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
My two most important qualifications are that, first of all, I was on the Flint Board of Education for six years, so I do have experience. I fought for the children and I will fight for the citizens just as hard. Another one of my qualifications would be knowing how the school system works.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
The main issue right now is the water. That’s the most important issue to me right now. You have seniors that are losing their homes because of water that they cannot drink. You have people, still babies, that are consuming this water, bathing in this water, and this is just not fair for the citizens of this city and their children. The second most important issue would be the crime. The crime is still ridiculous. Nothing has changed. People are still scared in the neighborhoods that they live in or the homes that they own. The police response time is sickening. The third most important issue would be economic development. No one wants to bring businesses to the city of Flint because of the crime and because of the water.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council? “My approach would be to sit down, listen to what they have to say, have the facts in front of us (not just myself), make sure the city council gets a copy of all the facts and numbers, and we would make a decision that is what’s best for the city, not what’s best for one council member not what’s best for the mayor.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
For me, to transition to what is going on in the city charter once the citizens vote for it, I will accept it.
Chris Del Morone
Chris Del Morone
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
I am a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BA in business administration, and I have worked in different capacities–on the Board of Review for the City of Flint, so I am familiar with the tax situation, and also for the City Clerk as an election inspector.
2.Why are you running?
I’m running to bring truth to the government. And also, over the years there has been very much waste at City Hall as to how the taxpayers’ money has been spent.
3. What three issues are most important to you – city-wide or in your ward –and why?
Water, everything around our water issue: Who do we go with for replacing the pipes? In addition, crime and economic development.
- How will you contribute to the effectiveness and productivity of the city council?
Obviously my goal would be to work with them–hopefully they would set some type of goal as to where they want to move the city to – our goals would be the same. Somehow we need to come together as a city.
Woody Etherly
Woody Etherly
1.What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
I served the city of Flint as mayor pro temp and I served the city of Flint as a city councilman.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
First, to stop the drive-by shootings and the killings in the city of flint so that we can be able to attract business to the city of Flint.
Second, to replace the lead pipes inside people’s houses because nobody is addressing that issue about the lead pipes inside the people’s houses that are contaminated because of what we have been pushing through them.
Number three is to make sure that we fight for a lower water price because I think we are being overcharged for water in the city of Flint.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
I believe that the city council and the mayor can work together because all of our goals are to serve the people of the city of Flint. I would include them in the process understanding the difference between their role and my role. My role is to propose, theirs is to dispose and I respect their jobs that they’ve been elected to do.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
To enforce it. It’s very simple: to enforce the will of the people. The people have voted and they have adopted the charter, so my job is to make sure that I follow the charter and enforce that.
Anderson Fernanders
Anderson Fernanders
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
One, I have a legal background. We know that both the current and the previous charter say the duties of mayor are to make sure that the laws are maintained equitably throughout the community.
The next one is guiding the city through being financially savvy and a steward of money to a place where the city can become a viable place not only for business but for the men, women, and children who live here.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
One is to lower the cost of living here in Flint and improve the quality of life. A better quality of life would bring up the morale here in the city A lower cost of living will increase men, women, and children’s ability to be consumers and have funds to enjoy living here in the city of Flint.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
I’m in the process of learning who is trying to become councilors so I can get a feel for who they are as a man or women.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
What I did was look at both charters. I saw that they are mostly the same; it’s just little tweaks here and there. One thing is that I will be able to have less of a staff then I would have under the old charter it’s just restructuring stuff that is already there. We have a standards clause within the old one but now the standards clause would be called the accountability clause and the way it’s structured, the people in it, is different but yet the same message is there.
Brent Jaworski
Brent Jaworski
What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
My background, living and growing up in Flint, that’s the pretext, plus 13 years in the steel service industry, where I was elected as a union steward. I have the best of both worlds working together.
2. What three issues are most important to you, and why?
First, assuring that we have basic city services – my most important three are infrastructure, refuse and municipal bankruptcy. I am advocating for an expedited municipal bankruptcy. The first two are basic things we’re responsible for as a city, the last one would be a total cleansing of admission of finances. Once that’s done we’ll finally get the support we actually need. Detroit is my example: it’s lovely down there. The city and the school system both should declare bankruptcy.
- What will be your approach to working with the city council? To be there in person, to be present and honest. I prefer personal face time — I’m not a social media guy.
- What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter? Recognizing and abiding by it…I voted for it, it’s a great idea. Envisioning the longterm goals of the Imagine Flint document and sticking to plain and simple city finances.
Scott Kincaid
Scott Kincaid
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
First of all, the most important qualification is my 32 years experience on city council and knowing and understanding how government really works and being able to work with the city council in being able to move Flint forward.
The second most important qualification is knowing and understanding the city of Flint’s budget: knowing how various departments are funded and being able to provide funding so we improve services to the residents in the city of Flint.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
Number one, water. We are still in a crisis with water and the long term water supply is still a real major concern for residents in the city of Flint along with how the water pipes are being replaced, the lead and galvanized pipes.
The second most important thing is public safety and making sure that our police department does a better job at responding to 911 calls.
The third priority is making sure the city of Flint’s budget is balanced and that we never end up with an emergency manager again.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
My approach in working with the city council will be to make sure that the council people are informed and involved in making decisions on whatever the issues are. I will spend time with the council and attend council meetings.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
In order for us to be able to implement some items in the new charter we have to go to the treasurer’s office and the governor’s office to have some of those directives implemented by the emergency manager removed. I will implement the new charter and not resist it.
Sean McIntyre
Sean McIntyre
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
Honesty and integrity – any time a person begins a job (or a project) with those two attributes front and center, their chance of success is multiplied. Also, I believe that I have the smallest ego of any candidate in the race, and yes, the irony of making a statement like that is not lost on me.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
Corruption, crime, and water – the underlying cause of those three issues, AND EVERY OTHER ISSUE FACING FLINT, is poverty. When people are desperate, they focus solely on their own survival, and those issues flourish.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
A leader is as successful as the people they are leading. That said, the Mayor is one cog of many, and ABSOLUTELY needs to have a working relationship with the Council. Everyone remembers group projects from school, right? Well government IS the ultimate group project. When everyone is putting the success of the group first, then it works. If any team member begins chasing their own self-interests, then it doesn’t work. That doesn’t mean disagreements won’t happen…then the Mayor, City Council, and department heads need to come together in good faith to work out those issues for the BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE city; not their own self-interests, and not the interests of any one, particular outside entity.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter? My role is to make the charter as understandable, relatable, and transparent as possible. Honestly though, it’s pages upon pages of verbose legalese. That’s a big ‘ask’ for a community that was recently deemed, “the poorest city in the country”. Two-thirds of our population live below the poverty line, my family included. Most of us deal with a combination of safety, food, and housing insecurity so it’s difficult to take the time to decipher and understand all of the ramifications of the charter, but our democracy depends on an informed populace.
David Meier
David Meier
Disclaimer: The information provided here by David Meier is being questioned by area veterans. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in South Carolina, there is no record of David Meier having received a Medal of Honor. There is no list nor any file with Meier’s name on it. As of Oct. 17, there are 72 living medal of honor recipients, “and we know all of them,” according to Victoria Kueck, director of operations for the society. Nor is there any independent evidence confirming that he was a brigadier general.
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
I have lived and worked in Genesee County for the past 63 years with about half of that time in Flint. I have been a Flint resident for the last 7 years and retired from General Motors in 2006. I have faithfully and loyally served my country in Vietnam and every war that America has been in since then. I am a CIA soldier and advisor. President Nixon awarded me the Medal of Honor in 1973 for my actions in An Loc, Vietnam May 24 1969. I have also attained the rank of brigadier general.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
Obviously the water issue and pipe replacement is a major problem and we need to get it fixed for the health of our community and especially the children. We need to address corruption in the administration and weed out thebad seeds in the police department. All over the country bad cops are getting away with shooting people and beating citizens. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen in Flint. I have first hand experience with this because it has happened to me.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
I don’t personally know any of the council members except from the media so I am starting with a clean slate. I am easy going and usually get along well with people but I have also been a warrior all of my life and I know how to stand my ground.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
I wasn’t involved with the new charter but with a lot of prayer and cooperation I am excited to begin implementing it.
Tony Palladeno (Photo by Dan White)
Tony Palladeno
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
I’m a lifelong invested resident/activist. Fully aware of Flint’s assets and hardships. Also have seen the needs of administration inside of city government.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
Bring the residents back into decision making. Job creation; police and housing safety. To become a self sufficient city; Fresh, Clean, Affordable water from our own plant.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
City council must be a part of the mayor and visa-versa. Must move as a unit, able to agree and disagree on all levels.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
My role will be to advocate, adjust and move forward the city charter. In fairness, question charter and accountability. Full awareness to the people, so we can understand our future.
Don Pfeiffer
Don Pfeiffer
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
At this time in Flint’s history, I am the most qualified to meet the city’s needs. As a builder and a business owner, I know what it takes to fix the water crisis. This is the biggest infrastructure project in the nation; and it requires someone who has brought in big projects on time and on budget. Blight reduction, street lighting replacement, and contract negotiations are also important issues that apply directly to this experience.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
After the water is safe, crime reduction is the next priority. People will not live and work where they do not feel safe. We have a plan to add police to our streets. Once crime is reduced, water fixed, and blight eliminated, we can develop an economic plan. We have plenty of land resources, a vibrant college community, and are still a central location for manufacturing and transportation.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
The city councilpersons are elected officials with an equal role in city government. We will place solid plans for budget spending and negotiate civilly with the Legislative Branch of Flint. There must be a mutual respect. I will set that tone with the confidence it will be returned.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter? Starting January 1st, we start leadership under the new charter. There are some overdue changes that needed to take place. We are thankful to the volunteers of the Charter Review Commission, without these individuals the revision would not have taken place. The Mayor’s role is simple, communicate with the constituents and be honest. This is an exciting time to show how true transparency and accountability can make for a better Flint.
Jeff Shelley
Jeff Shelley
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
While I have many more qualifications that would make be a great mayor, my two top qualifications are: the ability to listen to the residents, as great leaders do; and the ability to implement ideas. As a business man, I’ve worked with numerous people and learned how to negotiate, compromise, delegate, and implement plans. I went to Indiana Tech and studied Business Management. “
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
There are more than three issues that are equally important. a. Crime/Public Safety b. Economic Development c. Resolution of the Water Crisis, including replacing the main lines; the service lines; where water sources (primary and secondary) come from; and health concerns of the residents who have been exposed to the lead and toxins. Please go to my website for more information on these three issues: https://shelleyforflint.com/, or my FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyforFlint/
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
I will be instituting an open door policy. We will abide by the open meeting policies as described in the Charter City of Flint. I am going to work with the council, as sometimes the executives will have good ideas and sometimes the legislation has good ideas. Together we can make these great ideas. On the flip side, sometimes ideas on either side may not be so good. There needs to be checks and balances. The two sides need to work together to make Flint Great Again.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
I am excited about it as there has not been a new city charter in 43 years. My role is to make certain the rules and ordinances of the charter are adhered to and obeyed.
Karen Weaver
Karen Weaver
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job? My two most important qualifications for this job are leadership and integrity. Without leadership and vision, there is nothing to follow, and without integrity, there is no trust.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why? 1. First and foremost, access to clean, safe, affordable water. Water is a basic right, a moral right, a civil right, and a human right. 2. Public safety, which includes fire and police protection. Residents deserve to feel they are safe in and out of their homes. 3. Economic development, which equals job creation.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
My approach to working with the city council includes open communication, dialogue and transparency. Without these components, there is no movement toward positive resolve of issues.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
I see my role in transitioning to the new city charter as to advocate for the implementation of it, as well as to follow what has been put in place by the people.
Arthur Woodson
Arthur Woodson
1. What are your two most important qualifications for this job?
I have been fighting since Day One and working with all governmental agencies for the water and health of the people of Flint. I am able to bring together a team of experienced people and I know how to delegate duties, in the interest of solving issues and problems.
2. What three issues are most important to you and why?
The water and health crisis, public health crisis, and redoing the master plan. It’s not safe here until we can drink directly from the tap. We have had bacteria, carcinogens, TTHMs for many months. You don’t see the effects of a lot of those different things until later in life. On the master plan, we need to change the green zones to allow for more development.
3. What will be your approach to working with the city council?
First off, respecting them, respecting their job. These are two different bodies: the executive and the legislative. You have to have a working relationship and respect between the two, to build a foundation of working together. I also would bring in a city administrator with municipality skills.
4. What do you see as your role in transitioning to the new city charter?
The charter is already there — they just added some teeth, and I approve of that. What’s new about it is, the city attorney is working for the city of Flint, not the mayor – so that the city attorney doesn’t have to worry about telling the mayor the truth. The ombudsman’s office will be restored and will have more teeth, and residents will have a way to file complaints. Finally, the water department will have more teeth where they can’t borrow off the water funds. These are good changes.
EVM Editor Jan Worth-Nelson, Managing Editor Meghan Christian, Staff Writers Dylan Doherty and Patsy Isenberg collected and assembled these statements.
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