People Powered Flint hosted the third and final mayoral panel ahead of August 4 primary election

People Powered Flint held its third and final panel in its mayoral panel series for the candidates running for the Mayor of Flint. Two out of the five mayoral candidates were in attendance, which were Linda Anthony and Roshanda Womack. The panel had questions regarding reviewing existing policies while in office, personal values, transparency in leadership and uncertainty in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis.

The event was live-streamed on PPF’s Facebook page and included segments for audience participation for attendees at the venue. Local businesses Vitamin T Tacos and Johnny Jewel Prints were featured by the event, with a performance from vocalist Marjai Marketa before the panel began.

Roshanda Womack, a Flint native, a counselor and a former pastor attended all three mayoral panels hosted by PPF.

Linda Anthony is a pastor and Flint native and is a write-in candidate for the mayoral race. Which means she is not an official candidate listed on the ballot and is required to be written in the field below the official candidates. Anthony attended the previous panel facilitated by PPF. 

Recent developments in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis had both candidates responding to how the city has handled service line replacements, disputes and how residents were informed of repairs.

Anthony said that the water crisis made people leave Flint, and despite the people of Flint paying for the water, they are still waiting on their money. 

“Everybody else got paid, lawyers, everybody else got paid except for Flint residents,” Anthony said.

Womack said that the city is causing confusion with their communication, as the city’s website states that 97% of the project of pipe replacement is complete but declarations are deeming that the work is done and that Flint residents cannot confirm what the case really is.

“We have to get a director of public works back in the office to help oversee gathering, collecting and then disseminating this information to residents,” Womack said.

Attendees were able to participate and discuss concerns they had with current city policy to the panelists.

Kuwanna Lynn Mack, a Flint resident and employee at the MTA Ride to Wellness Program, said there should be an audit of a trash contract between the city of Flint and Priority Trash.

“We’re supposed to bring our trash back in-house,” Mack said. “We had our own garbage, know what I’m saying? Bring back the workers here; we need that tax base.”

Mack said the people of Flint haven’t been benefiting from Mayor Sheldon Neely’s policies, “I’m just for the people, whoever gets in there, because Neely. We haven’t been getting anything for the people, you know.”

Brandi Purtill, the host for the event and coalition member of PPF said that PPF is looking forward to advocating for ranked choice voting for 2028.

Ranked-choice voting is a system in which people can vote for as many candidates as they like, but they must be ranked by preference. This means that people could have a second or even third choice on their ballots for candidates running for elected offices.

“We’re already looking for Mid-Michigan locations to get groups together to talk about education and volunteering,” Purtill said.

Early voting is allowed up to Aug. 2, and any time after will require individuals to vote in person for the Primary elections on Aug. 4. For more information on polling places and voter registration, visit michigan.gov/vote.

Flint residents can vote early downtown on the third floor of Flint City Hall until Aug. 2. On election day, Aug. 4, Flint residents can vote at the Doyle-Ryder School on 1040 N. Saginaw Street.

Andres Ochoa

+ postsBio ⮌

Andres Ochoa is a writer for The Michigan Times. He is a photographer and an A/V enthusiast, studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Michigan-Flint.

This author does not have any more posts.