Flint council members have been at an impasse for hours as they voted on officers

FLINT, MI (WNEM) – The Flint City Council was required by city charter to elect officials Monday evening, November 11, but as of 10:30 p.m., that had not yet happened.

Monday night’s meeting comes just two weeks after the deadline to fill the 3rd Ward seat, previously held by the late Councilmember Quincy Murphy.

It’s nothing new for the city council; Every year on the second Monday of November, the positions of elected committee chairs expire. The only caveat this year is that the third City Council seat is already vacant, making voting for a new president much more difficult.

“We still have work to complete and I hope we don’t get stuck,” said Council Member Tonya Burns.

The City Council was at an impasse on Monday evening as the council could not agree on who would be elected the next council president.

Dozens upon dozens of rounds, four votes went to Candice Mushatt as the next president, the other four to newcomer Jonathan Jarrett.

“This council, we need someone who can bring this council together and not divide us further,” Burns said.

Burns was dead set on their decisions and said selecting the right person could turn things around for the council and bring them back to one agreement.

‘It is time that we start treating this council as a body of nine and not of five. Every neighborhood has representation, and every neighborhood should have representation on this city council,” Burns said.

The Flint City Council tried to appoint someone to the 3rd Ward seat a month ago, but that Oct. 14 meeting was cut short after violence broke out in the council chambers.

“It’s time for new leadership, so everyone feels welcome, everyone feels safe, so we can focus on economic development. Focus on moving the city forward together,” said Burns.

But taking that first step to move forward will be a challenge.

At 10:30 p.m., the city council had completed more than 100 rounds of voting and no council president had been elected.

Step two is selecting a vice president and then committee chairs, and last but not least, engaging in city business and discussing resolutions, none of which can happen until new council leadership is decided.

“Where should the community go? Will we succeed in bringing back civility? It could be a long night,” Burns said.

Subscribe to the TV5 newsletter and get the latest local news and weather delivered straight to your email every day.