Flint city officials are moving to appoint a 3rd Ward ambassador in place of the council's deadlocked decision to fill the vacant council seat. According to WNEM, the seat has been empty since Councilman Quincy Murphy passed away in September, and the council has gone months without appointing his successor, despite a 30-day requirement stated in the Flint City Charter.
After the Flint City Council fell into gridlock over the appointment of Murphy's replacement, Flint's Ethics and Accountability Board brought the matter to the Genesee Circuit Judge, who called for mediation scheduled to start the week of Jan. 6. However, if a councilperson is appointed before Jan. 6, the judge's order for mediation would be unnecessary, as reported by WNEM.
In the meantime, Ed Taylor, Mayor Sheldon Neeley's chief of staff, has announced plans to name an ambassador that will function as a point of contact for the 3rd Ward residents, ensuring connection to the city’s representation. "The council is in violation of the city charter and now the matter is in court," Taylor stated, emphasizing the necessity for innovative solutions in unprecedented times, as MLive reported.
The ambassador, whose appointment process was announced on Dec. 27, would ensure that concerns from 3rd Ward residents are communicated to city officials until an official representative is elected. Residents who are interested in taking on this role have until Jan. 10 to reach out to Ed Taylor, with the selection planned to be publicized by Jan. 15. The judge also pointed out that her decision would be void if the city council manages to agree on a councilperson before Jan. 6, something that's yet to occur, as Mid-Michigan Now reports.
