FLINT, Mich. — Mayor Sheldon Neeley has signaled his intent to seek a third term, touting his administration’s handling of public safety, financial stability and water infrastructure.
“From exploding neighborhoods to ransomware attacks to financial crisis to a worldwide pandemic. We’ve been here, and we’ve been doing the work that’s necessary to be able to do and say that we are ready for a third term,” the two-term incumbent said.
Neeley highlighted the challenges his administration has faced since he took office in 2019, pointing to crises such as neighborhood instability, ransomware attacks, financial struggles and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Flint has turned the corner. We talk about water quality, our financial stability—we’ve been able to do that,” Neeley said. “We don’t talk about the things or brag about the things that we want to do. We can talk about the things that we have done and accomplishments that we have made.”
Earlier this month, Neeley submitted his sixth balanced budget to Flint City Council, prioritizing public safety, blight elimination, staffing and infrastructure upgrades. The budget prevented water rate hikes for residents despite increasing costs imposed by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA).
“The City of Flint was signed into a 30-year agreement for water from the city of Detroit … But still, that system has continually raised rates, but I refuse to pass them on to the end users,” he said.
Neeley has overseen efforts to replace lead pipes and construct a new water treatment plant with funding from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. By July 2016, lead levels in Flint’s water had returned to state standards.
His administration has also focused on public safety. In his most recent budget proposal, the police and fire departments received the most funding.
Facing a 30% increase in homicides in 2020, Neeley declared a state of emergency and sought state and federal assistance. His administration ended the controversial gun buyback program, opting instead to destroy confiscated firearms to prevent their return to the streets.
Flint was among the first Michigan cities to declare a state of emergency in March 2020 due to COVID-19. The administration implemented water bill relief for residents and employed a medical advisor to guide the city’s pandemic response.
Neeley has faced rising public scrutiny since his second term, with some accusing him of overreach and lack of transparency.
Multiple recall attempts have been made, with some reaching advanced stages. In 2024, he successfully avoided the third recall attempt of the year, as the Genesee County Election Commission ruled that the petition’s language lacked clarity.
Additionally, a nonprofit service provider who was recently evicted from its West Home Avenue address accused the administration of “relentless bullying, harassment, and obstruction” in a Jan. 2, 2025, statement amid the eviction dispute.
Before becoming mayor, Neeley served on the Flint City Council from 2005 to 2014, representing the city’s Sixth Ward. He then represented Michigan’s 34th House District from 2015 to 2019, resigning to pursue the mayor’s office.
In the 2019 mayoral election, Neeley narrowly defeated incumbent Karen Weaver, securing 50.19% of the vote in a runoff that saw a 19% voter turnout. He was re-elected in 2022 with 53% of the vote, again defeating Weaver.
“We definitely need help with our city council and also our Flint schools. We’ve been building those relationships, but we need you, the residents, to step up and say that we like the work that’s being done and vote for me for my third term,” Neeley said.