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VOTE411 Voter Guide

MAYOR - CITY OF FLINT

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  • Candidate picture

    Linda Elaine Anthony
    (NON)

  • Candidate picture

    Tonya Burns
    (NON)

  • Candidate picture

    Sheldon A. Neeley
    (NON)

  • Candidate picture

    Micaiah J. Owens
    (NON)

  • Candidate picture

    Roshanda Womack
    (NON)

Biographical Information

What qualifications/experiences make you an asset to the role of Mayor?

Briefly state what near-term key issues you want to address and how?

Briefly state what strategic goals (long-term) you expect to set for your community?

Sadly, we are in an era of significant trust issues in public representation, do you believe that elected officials should take an oath to abide by a formal ethics agreement: specifically with regard to behavior, conflict of interest, and fiduciary responsibility? Why or why not?

Open question: What would you like voters to know about you (as a public representative)?

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Campaign Email Burnstonya75@gmail.com
Campaign Phone 8108803300
Campaign FaceBook Page http://Facebook.com/tonya.burns.31
City/Town Flint
Education Attended: Pierce Elementary School, Whittier middle school, and graduated from Flint Central. Attended Detroit College of Business, Davenport University
Experience Elected as Sixth Ward Councilwoman in 2021, Economic Development Liaison, Business Owner -ADT Dealersip
Age 57
Community Involvement Community Activist, Flint City Council-member, Youth Mentor,
Campaign Message Restoring Trust and Confidence, Your Voice, Your Community, Our Future
Municipal government as a Flint City Council-member and Economic Development Liaison. My core responsibilities were passing resolutions-laws, introducing and voting on local rules regarding public safety and business. In addition to responsibilities with managing the budget, reviewing, modifying and approving the mayors proposed annual budget to allocate funding for city departments such as police-fire and public works. Other daily responsibilities are constituent services addressing blight, trash collection, nuisance homes, roads and street issues. In my role as economic liaison my responsibilities were, new business attraction, retention and expansion.
To begin, I have 100 day plan. My plan will be implemented day one to put Flint back on the right track to restore trust and confidence in our government. Addressing first; safe drinkable water from the tap and restoring public trust in our drinking water system. Secondly, I have a comprehensive public safety plan which deals with gun violence, lawlessness, teen gangs and more. Thirdly, I have a blight plan, the plan addresses structural blight along with illegal dumping. Lastly, I will make it a priority to hire a DPW Director. Flint has been without a DPW Director since 3/17/22. This will ensure Flint’s infrastructure and daily services are overseen.
Strategic long plan goals for Flint include, lowering the gun violence, homicides, and other crimes that we’ve had an uptick in this year. Also neighborhood beautification, which will include addressing structural blight illegal dumping. Economic development, creating a business incubator at the Oak Business Center for small businesses and entrepreneurs to grow their ideas. In addition, attract new businesses, let them know Flint is open for business by attracting new industries and supporting them with a business concierge service. Lastly, unify Flint, as we must be inclusive of everyone. I want Flint to be a safe space, safe place for people to live, work and worship.
Yes, in the Flint City Charter there is an ethics section. As the executive branch and administrative branch are sworn in, the oath is taken. Unfortunately, the oath isn’t always be abide by. I’ve unfortunately seen council members who voted to give their own nonprofits ARPA Funds as well as taking gifts from companies doing business with the city, which it is clearly prohibited in the Flint City Charter. I took my oath seriously. I’ve even had to retain personal attorneys to go to the Michigan Supreme Court when the charter was being violated by an unauthorized ARPA Board that was meeting secretly whereas no notes or minutes were taken and the City Clerk was never notified to make a public posting for the public to attend. The Michigan Supreme Court stated in its ruling that the ARPA committee was an illegally formed multi member board and ruled in my favor.
I want voters in Flint to know I care. I truly believe in restoring trust and confidence to City Hall. I stood for what was right even when being ridiculed by those that I knew were doing wrong. I used my own money to hire outside attorneys to represent myself backed by the residents as we stood united on principle as each time the judges ruled in my favor. Flint is a wonderful city as I grew up here. I love showing visitors flint through my eyes in “ Tour La’ Flint”. Our city is a “Gem” with resilient residents. Flint has had some great times and we’ve survived some tough times. But it’s now time to move Flint forward together in a positive way.
Campaign Email mayorneeley@gmail.com
Campaign Phone 8102427662
City/Town Flint
Education Flint Public Schools, Flint Northern, attended Saginaw Valley State University
Experience Incumbent Mayor; professional in broadcast engineering; served as a high school counselor, and also as a counselor at a runaway shelter. I served on Flint City Council as well as State Representative.
Age 57
Community Involvement I chair the DDA Board and serve on the MEDC Executive Committee. I also work with the Flint & Genesee Chamber and was on the MTA Board.
Endorsements Laborers 1075; MI Carpenters and Millwrights; GLS Building Trades; Flint Police Officers Assoc.;
Campaign Message I’m running again to continue Flint’s forward progress. We are on a great trajectory, and we're going to continue that progress because Flint deserves nothing less.
Flint is on a positive trajectory--balanced budgets, more cops, out of bankruptcy, created a large team to fight blight, and demolishing abandoned buildings. This is not the time to change course for the city of Flint.
1. Public Health: We have health disparities in Flint, both mental and physical. We have people with disabilities, addiction or mental health issues, and we’ve got to find ways to support those individuals. 2. Insurance: We’ve begun to try to tackle insurance issues in Flint – whether it be residential, auto, or health. We're working to alleviate a lot of the stress for residents to help keep people out of foreclosure and in their homes. 3. Utility Costs: We’re looking at ways to reduce costs for residents. One of the challenges we have is that the previous administration signed a 30-year agreement that keeps raising rates, and we've been stabilizing that.
Reducing water and insurance rates for residents. Continue the economic growth and adding even more jobs for Flint residents. Finally, repair our infrastructure--not just roads, but also the tree canopy and environmental injustices, the water, and the level of blight in this city.
Yes, and we need to find a way that leaders are held to account for their actions. As mayor, the buck stops with me.
I’ve only lived in two homes my whole life, both in Flint. The first was the home where I was raised with my mother, father, and my brother, and the second house is the one my wife and I bought.
Campaign Email micforflint@gmail.com
Campaign Phone (810)247-8681
City/Town FLINT
Education I have a Juris Doctor (MSU Law), Master of Jurisprudence (MSU Law), and bachelor's degree (Penscoal Christian College).
Experience I have been a municipal law and civil litigation attorney for nearly a decade, advising and representing Michigan local governments on many complex legal issues and ensuring that they abide by the law.
Age 36
Community Involvement I am a tax paying, law abiding Flint resident, who helps his neighbors and people in need, who has provided pro bono legal services to Flint and Flint-area persons, and who supports various Flint and Flint-area charities.
Campaign Message Micaiah J. Owens ("Mic"), an attorney and former carpenter, wants to "Build Flint Better" as Mayor! His Build Flint Better Plan is about restoring Flint’s foundations for success by jumpstarting jobs, securing safety for residents and businesses (cutting crime and finishing the water), and blossoming Flint’s beauty (strategically removing blight and litter and focusing on infrastructure) through teamwork and transparency (monthly mayoral town halls guaranteed). Mic comes from a long line of Michigan farmers, shop-workers, and people who came to Michigan for a better life. Mic has a vision to see Flint once again be the place that people move to for a better life. Micaiah lives in Flint with his lovely wife, Mary, in the Seventh Ward.
I am an attorney at law, practicing municipal (local government) law, litigation, contracts, real estate, estate planning, and other areas of law for nearly a decade. I advise and represent several municipalities regarding the law. In my profession, I am not just a politician; I am the person whom the politicians ask for counsel.
I have made available to Flint residents an objectives plan based upon the insights that they communicated to me. My full “Build Flint Better Plan” is available on my Facebook and by request. The plan focuses on restoring the foundations of our city by working with the people of our city to establish the following pillars: JUMPSTART JOBS (advocate for good jobs and cut red tape for small business), SECURE SAFETY (cut crime and restore water), BLOSSOM BEAUTY (strategic blight removal and infrastructure restoration), through TEAMWORK (with Council and the People) and TRANSPARENCY (monthly mayoral town halls).
• Establish quality, long-term living-wage jobs through big and small business growth. • Restore confidence in the water by remedying its defects. • Increase effective police presence and professionalism. • Perform substantial removal of blighted buildings from main roads and side streets in a balanced manner. • Establish effective blight enforcement to reduce and deter dumping. • Instill a culture of communication and service between the city government and people of Flint.
Flint voters have been betrayed by their leadership too many times in the past. I will change this by being committed to fair, honest, and transparent leadership. I would happily take an additional oath to abide by all relevant laws to ensure that the people of Flint are protected and not benefited under my leadership.
Flint has long needed a leader who is both competent to do the job and who cares for the people of this city. As the only candidate who advises governments on how to operate, Micaiah Owens (“Mic”) is certainly competent to handle the job. But what he truly wants the reader to know is that Mic is a person who lives with you in your city, who is raising his family here in your city, and who knows and appreciates the struggles you are facing every day because he faces the same struggles. A vote for Micaiah Owens is not just vote for a competent leader, but it is a vote for a leader who will listen to you, who will fight for you, and who will care for you, while working with you.
Campaign Email Electwomack@gmail.com
Campaign Phone 810-412-8062
City/Town Flint
Education Grambling State University- B.A. Psychology, B.A. Sociology, Spring Arbor University- M.A. Counseling, and Ordained Elder
Experience I’ve dedicated my career to working with children and families: Catholic Charities- Prevention Specialist, Early On- Service Coordinator, Flint Community Schools- School Counselor, Flint Central Church- Pastor of Community Engagement, Early Head Start- Home Visitor and Clinical supervisor, Mott Community College- Clinical Therapist, Shani Womack Enterprises- Professional Storyteller, Curriculum Developer and Grant Writer.
Age 54
Community Involvement Member of the Community Read, Women Without Walls and F.A.I.R.
Campaign Message I am a lifelong resident of the city of Flint. In my bid to become Mayor, I am committed to leading the city with transparency, integrity, and unity. In conversations with community members, it became clear that they want someone other than a career politician. The community is looking for someone who is personable, relatable, knowledgeable and accessible.
The three jobs that have most prepared me to be mayor are parenting, pastoring, and Counseling. I learned how to balance competing demands, navigate time and financial constraints to meet goals and deadlines. I’ve gained crisis management skills to de-escalation tense situations and remain steady under pressure. I’ve had to master resource allocation, fiscal responsibility, balance budgets to address current needs and ensure long term stability. I spent years perfecting my conflict mediation and consensus building skills in board meetings and family meetings. My work has taught me the importance of active listening, empathy, and appreciation for diverse opinions.
The job of Mayor, will require me to work with city council, even when we disagree. First, I will begin by building positive working relationships with all members of City Council. Secondly, to build trust, I would implement the Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) framework in response to the primary, secondary and vicarious trauma that we all have experienced. This will allow healing and visioning to take place between the Mayor’s Office and City Council. I will also encourage opportunities for growth through continuing education. Secondly I will actively pursue equitable opportunities to bring 3,000 new jobs, that pay living wages to our city.
1. Safer Flint Prevent violence, improve emergency response, reduce gun access for youth, protect rights, and hold systems accountable.

2. Strong Families and Youth Opportunity Advocate for and Invest in afterschool, literacy, mental health services, special education supports, youth jobs, mentorship, and pathways away from violence and the justice system.

3. Honest Government and Fair Growth Restore trust in City Hall through transparency, professionalism, responsible development, fair spending, and services based on need, not politics.
Yes. As an elected public official, I will proudly represent my hometown. I would be willing to take an oath to act ethically and responsibly while in office. Leaders should be held to a high standard and do their best to serve as model citizens, that both children and adults can respect, trust and be proud of.
My administration will work hard to earn residents trust by giving clear answers, making sure that I and my staff treat people with respect. We will act professionally, be responsive and tell the truth, even when the truth is difficult. I will maintain set office hours to meet with residents and hear their concerns. I will hold town hall meetings in each ward of the city annually. I plan to be intentional about scheduling time to attend city counsel meetings and inviting youth and young adults to participate in city government. Finally, I will work to update the online community dashboard, so that residents can easily access up-to-date information in plan language.