Flint announces certified candidates for mayor, city council races

FLINT, Mich. — An official list of certified candidates for Flint’s open mayoral and City Council seats has been released as the Aug. 4 primary looms closer.

Four qualified candidates will be in the running to fill the office of mayor in the fall election season, including incumbent Mayor Sheldon Neeley, 6th Ward Councilwoman Tonya Burns, attorney Micaiah Owens and former pastor Roshanda Womack.

A total of 20 candidates have qualified for City Council seats, according to a Monday news release from the Flint city clerk’s office. The official ballot list of Flint City Council candidates is included below:

1st Ward

• Debra Coleman
• Cynthia Haynes
• Arthur Woodson 

2nd Ward

• Maurice Davis
• LaQuindra Hodge
• LaShawn Johnson (3rd Ward incumbent)
• Ladel Lewis (2nd Ward incumbent)
• Audrey Young

3rd Ward

• Leon El-Alamin (1st Ward incumbent)

4th Ward

• Ramie Yelle

5th Ward

• Joel Arnold
• Wantwaz Davis
• Jeron Dotson
• DeWuan Robinson

6th Ward

• Dakota Starr

7th Ward

• Darell Brown
• Candice Mushatt (7th Ward incumbent)

8th Ward

• Casey Lester
• Ezekiel Harris

9th Ward

• Michael Harris

At least two previously disqualified candidates may also join the race as write-in candidates. Beverly Biggs-Leavy and 4th Ward incumbent Judy Priestley have announced their intentions to continue their candidacies for the 3rd and 4th wards, respectively, despite not appearing on the certified list.

Both women have been disqualified for the same issue: each submitted filing paperwork while still owing campaign finance fees.

Biggs-Leavy announced her candidacy as a write-in candidate in a press release Monday, the same day the official candidate list was certified. 

“Corruption in City Hall is more prevalent than ever,” Biggs-Leavy said in the release. “The people of the 3rd Ward deserve honesty, transparency and leadership that actually works for them — not against them.”

Priestley previously told Flint Beat she hopes to retain her seat by running as a write-in candidate and plans to make an official announcement later in April.