Written by Tanya Terry
Since Flint City Councilman Quincy Murphy died in September 2024 and the 3rd Ward Flint City Council seat has been vacant since, the City of Flint is doing something Mayor Sheldon Neeley is calling “unprecedented.” The administration has selected two 3rd Ward ambassadors to “step up I the gap and get concerns addressed, with a third ambassador to be selected and announced by next week.
“This is unprecedented in the city of Flint, but this is because the charter has not been followed by City Council,” Neeley said.
He added the administration did not want the 3rd Ward to go without someone who could bring resident concerns to them so they could take care of them.
Neeley said at a January 14 press conference that under the city’s charter, the City Council has 30 days to appoint someone to fill a vacancy. He called the charter the “constitution of the community.”
Neeley stated ambassadors were selected to help ensure ward residents were fairly served.
Chief of Staff Ed Taylor said these concerns may be as simple as reporting potholes. He said many area residents are not aware there is a pothole hotline, but stated if they reach out to either him or one of the 3rd Ward ambassadors, they will get them in contact with the right individuals to help.
Neeley also stated concerns such as trees damaging a roof or pushing the sidewalk or blight issues may now be brought to them through the ambassadors.
Neeley said Linda Boose and LaShawn Johnson were both selected as 3rd Ward ambassadors after applications were collected and carefully reviewed by City officials during an approximately 2-week window.
Boose retired from the Department of Health and Human Services and serves on the Flint Board of Education. She has resided in the 3rd Ward for over 30 years and is a lifetime resident of Flint.
“I live on the northeast side of Flint, and we have always been underrepresented,” Boose said. “We have to scramble to get answers about different concerns in the area. So, I’m very excited, I’m honored to serve in the 3rd Ward as ambassador.”
Johnson is a lifetime resident of the 3rd Ward who says she likes to see “great things.” She is a bus driver for Madison Academy and works for the federal government.
“I’m here to serve the 3rd Ward in the great loss of my councilman, Quincy Murphy,” Johnson said. “We can’t replace him, but we’re going to do the best we can to help our residents…”
The Flint City Council voted last week to have a primary and general election for a 3rd Ward Flint City Council candidates.
Boose said she is “not interested” in the 3rd Ward Flint City Council seat, but Johnson is running for that seat.
In the meantime, Boose and Johnson can both be reached by calling the Mayor’s Office at 810-766-7346. Additionally, Neeley pointed out many people know both ambassadors and they will be out and about in the ward.
