Investigation Requested Following Controversial Flint City Council Election
In a surprising turn of events, the recent Flint city council election has come under scrutiny after Beverly Biggs-Leavy, a candidate who came second, called for an investigation into the election’s conduct.
The election was held to fill a long-vacant seat in Flint’s Third Ward, a position left open after councilman Quincy Murphy’s unexpected passing last September. His absence had stalled council activities, making this special election crucial.
Write-in candidate LaShawn Johnson emerged victorious, securing 322 votes, while Biggs-Leavy followed with 225 votes. AC Dumas, another candidate, received 192 votes, despite finishing ahead of Johnson in the previous May primary.
However, the election outcome has been challenged. Biggs-Leavy and her supporters have raised concerns about the voting process, alleging that the write-in ballots for Johnson appeared suspiciously similar in handwriting and accused Johnson of mishandling absentee ballots.
“I want to see them prosecuted and I want it to be thrown out,” Biggs-Leavy stated. “If the people did not write her name in there, the ballots are no good. They’re tampered with.”
Johnson, in her defense, expressed her commitment to prioritizing the needs of the Third Ward, stating that her focus is on “putting the Third Ward first.”
Meanwhile, Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons acknowledged that a complaint regarding the election has been lodged with state authorities, indicating that it “will be handled by the appropriate investigative body.”
Requests for comments from the U.S. Department of Justice and State House Speaker Matt Hall’s office went unanswered as of the latest report by Michigan Public.
For more about the election and its implications, visit the Michigan Public website.
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