The mayor who led Flint through its water crisis lost her bid for another term on Tuesday.
Unofficial results show State Rep. Sheldon Neeley defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver by a few hundred votes.
Neeley credited his supporters and the tone of his campaign for his victory.
“We ran a very positive race. A race that we didn’t have a lot of money (or) a lot of star power,” Neeley said Tuesday night.
Mayor Karen Weaver campaigned with Rev. Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King III in the days leading up to the election.
For her part, Weaver pointed a finger at her persistent critics for her loss.
“Ever since I’ve been in office, people have lied on me, and lied on me, and lied on me. Every single day,” lamented Weaver. “And after a while, it just builds up.”
However, the Flint mayor’s race may not be over.
Weaver is not conceding defeat just yet.
“I said I wouldn’t rule out a recount, so we’ll see,” Weaver told reporters Tuesday night.
Mayor-elect Sheldon Neeley does not believe a recount would be good for Flint.
“That’s the type of mentality that divides our community even further,” says Neeley, adding, “That said, I am very confident the results will stand up.”
Neeley hopes the Weaver administration will work with his transition team.
One of the first things the mayor-elect plans to do is conduct an audit of city finances.
