Featured photo by Tanya Terry, left to right-4th Ward Councilperson Judy Priestly, 5th Ward City Councilperson Jerri Winfrey-Carter and 1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays (with microphone)
Written By Jameca Patrick-Singleton and Tanya Terry
On Tuesday July 11, 2023 recall language against 1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays failed to be approved by the Genesee County Election Commission. The language was based on him being convicted of disorderly conduct. Mays, who attended the meeting. argued that the language should not be approved because he could not properly defend himself against the allegations made in the document.
Mays said: “This is my third term. I’ve been charged with disorderly conduct. This doesn’t tell me specifically what term they’re talking about. It should, in my opinion, identify what term, what date so I can properly defend against it. “
Mays is just one of two council members that faced the Election Commission on July 11. Judy Priestly, the council person representing the 4th Ward, did not attend the hearing. The commission approved the language to recall her.
A hearing was scheduled for June 8, to determine whether the initial petition involving Priestley could be circulated. But the Election Commission rejected the language then.
The language on the petition to recall Priestly centered around her not attending a meeting called by 6th Ward Councilwoman Tonya Burns and Mays to address resident questions about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The funding came from the federal government as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Priestly makes the fourth council member to have a recall petition approved recently. Almost identical recall language against Ladel Lewis (Ward 2), Eva Worthing (Ward 9) and Allie Herkeroder (Ward 7) was approved on June 27.
However, Herkeroder had announced her resignation prior to the recall petitions being approved. She announced her resignation on June 8, 2023, and her last day as a member of the council was July 1.
A recall petition against 8th Ward Councilman Dennis Pfiffer was submitted on July 6. The hearing against Pfiffer has not yet been scheduled.’
Flint resident Adam Ford submitted language seeking the recall of Priestley for approval on May 23.
Resident Ebony Coleman submitted language seeking the recall of Herkenroder for approval on June 2.
Resident Sherry Allen submitted language seeking the recall of Lewis for approval on June 6.
Resident Mary Alice Hawkins submitted language seeking the recall of Worthing for approval on June 7.
Resident Dionne Freeman submitted language seeking the recall of Mays for approval on June 21.
Resident Joelana Freeman submitted language seeking to recall Pfeiffer for approval on July 6.
Michigan requires a clarity and factual hearing in order to approve a recall petition for circulation.
Once recall language is approved, recall organizers need to collect signatures equal to 25% of the number of ward voters from the preceding gubernatorial election in order for a recall election to occur.
Priestly has 10 days from the decision date to decide whether she will appeal the commission’s July 11 decision with the Genesee Circuit Court before this process begins.
