An internal fight on the Flint city council is a step closer toward spilling out into this fall’s general election.
The Genesee County Election Commission approved recall petition language Thursday against one of four Flint city council members.
The panel rejected the other three recall proposals for minor wording problems that will likely be addressed in the coming weeks.
City councilman Eric Mays watched as others defended the recall language before the commission. Mays freely admits he’s behind the recall campaign against his opponents on the council.
“I don’t care what you say it’s politics,” says Mays. “Yes, I’m a professional politician…supporting the mayor…and supporting the city and the residents in which grew up and live.”
After the meeting, Mays recounted several clashes he’s had with the other city council members he’d like to see recalled.
Councilwoman Monica Galloway didn’t challenge the language in the recall petition targeting her, though she insists she did nothing wrong.
She finds it interesting that councilman Mays is behind the recall effort, given his history of disruptive behavior at council meetings and legal issues that have landed him in jail.
“If you look at one of his last convictions, they didn’t even sentence him until after his election,” says Galloway. “You tell me where that happens at.”
If his supporters can collect enough signatures, Mays hopes to get the recalls scheduled for November, when Flint voters are already scheduled to vote for mayor.
Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio
