Recall effort against Flint City Council President Ladel Lewis moves forward

Flint, MI—A recall effort against Flint City Council President Ladel Lewis has been approved to proceed.

Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons said a recall against Lewis was approved to collect signatures on April 1, 2024. 

“Initially, I stated that this is what democracy looks like. Three attempts later, I can say this is what the “abuse” of democracy looks like,” Lewis said in an email about the recall attempt.

“Unlike the previous recall attempts, I am keeping a close watch to eliminate the illegal and deceptive methods employed by previous petitioners to remove me from my elected seat.”

Petitions to recall Lewis have been approved twice since October 2023, but circulators failed to gather the 751 2^nd Ward signatures required to force a special election. 

The recall petition language filed on March 14, 2024, states that the reason for the recall is Lewis voting yes on a resolution presented during a Dec. 20, 2023 council meeting. The resolution in question allocated $40,567,919.65 of the city’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for revenue replacement. 

An additional recall petition filed against Lewis was not approved to proceed. The language aimed to recall Lewis for voting to allocate $50,000 in ARPA funds to the Neighborhood Engagement Hub to serve as the fiduciary for the Sarvis Park Neighborhood Association, which Lewis incorporated.

If the petitioner of the approved recall language collects 751 valid signatures, a special election will be held. That election would automatically include Lewis and other candidates who file for a spot on the ballot. The candidate with the most votes would complete the remainder of the term, which continues through 2025.