Written by Tanya Terry
Eight recall petitions were filed targeting Mayor Sheldon Neeley on Friday, September 27. The reasons for the petitions are as follows:
1 – Mayor Sheldon Andre Neeley announced the City of Flint would enter into a contract with STAT-EMS, stating the partnership would bring Flint residents faster service and higher quality service.
2-Sheldon Andre Neeley received a check from Ashley Capital Political Action Committee, in the amount of two thousand one hundred dollars.
3-Sheldon Andre Neeley stated in a Scripps news article on May 16, 2023, that deadlines were set, and the deadlines were missed, I admit that.
4-Under Mayor Sheldon Andre Neeley, in a Scripps news article dated April 25, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency warned it was not safe for any resident to drink water in Flint without special filters.
5-Flint Mayor Sheldon Andre Neeley was denied qualified immunity in wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Former Fire Chief Raymond Barton.
6-Under Mayor Sheldon Andre Neeley, the City of Flint mayoral administration, in a news article dated May 25, 2024, stated that the Environmental Protection Agency and state officials warned it wasn’t safe for any resident to drink water in Flint without special filters.
7-In a memorandum from City of Flint, Office of the Mayor, the City of Flint will pay Flint City Golf, L.L.C. a monthly management fee of $6,000.00 a month for a not to exceed total of $72,000.00 upon receipt of the monthly reports and invoice.
8-In a memorandum from the Office of the Mayor, signed by Sheldon Andre Neeley, the parties agreed (A) Flint City Golf L.L.C. shall manage and operate the courses on behalf of the City of Flint during 2024.
A statement regarding the recall efforts from Mayor Sheldon Neeley is as follows:
“As mayor of the great City of Flint, I’m proud of the historic work we’ve accomplished, and these are just a few examples:
- Stimulating more than $2.5 billion in economic development and growth.
- Kickstarting redevelopment of the Buick City brownfield with Ashley Capital, including NanoGraf’s commitment to create jobs for Flint residents.
- Demolishing over 600 blighted buildings, with 1300 more in progress.
- Creating summer jobs for Flint kids.
- Paving 28 miles of streets since 2023.
- Developing the St. John Street Neighborhood Memorial Park.
- Negotiating historic wage increases for all City of Flint union employees.
- Delivering 68,000 trash and recycling carts to Flint residents.
- Launching a dedicated ambulance service for the City of Flint.
“Unfortunately, recall attempts have become the norm in Flint politics. Each of our last five mayors had recall attempts against them, but never before have we seen so much outside influence dividing our community. I am confident that the people of Flint will choose unity instead of division and we will continue to work together to drive progress in our community.”
Dominique Clemons, Genesee County clerk and register of deeds explained the recall process from this point on.
Once language is submitted, that language gets submitted to the County Election Commission.
“We do not get into if we like the language, if we think it’s good, if we think it’s a good reason to be recalled,” said Clemons. “It’s just if it’s clear and factual.
Barrying any appeal, if the language is approved, the petition filer, which in this case is Renita Robinson, has 180 days to collect signatures. The signatures, which are only valid for 60 days, are turned into the County Clerk Office to be reviewed and make sure everything is complete.
If the proper number of signatures are received and the information that relates to them is complete, the recall goes on the ballot for the next upcoming election. In this case, that election will be May 2025.
If the recall efforts are not successful, Neeley’s term will last into 2026.