Mayor-elect faces power struggle, deficit
Amber Carey
Issue date: 11/21/03 Section: Local News
Don Williamson, the multimillionaire founder and majority shareholder of Sports Resorts International Inc., was sworn in as mayor of Flint on Nov. 10.
Since Aug. 2002, Flint has been under the control of emergency financial manager Ed Kurtz.
Now Williamson and Kurtz find themselves in the midst of a spiraling struggle over who's the boss of whom.
Williamson has demanded that he has the authority to hire and fire mayor-appointed city officials, while Kurtz maintains that he holds this authority until the state takeover is terminated.
However, should Williamson not heed to Kurtz, Kurtz would have the ability to request that Williamson be removed from office, which would be directed to a hearing before the state loan board.
Ultimately, the approval to remove Williamson from office would have to be mandated by Governor Jennifer Granholm herself.
Williamson has made it clear to his constituents that he plans to fire two leaders of economic development in the Flint area that he opposes.
The targets are Todd Brian, president of Flint Genesee Economic Growth Alliance, and Tim Herman, who leads the Genesee Area Focus Council and is president of Uptown Reinvest-ment Corporation, currently refurbishing the bricks on Saginaw Street.
While the law prohibits residential requirements of city officials, Williamson is now attempting to block Kurtz from appointing any new city officials by insisting that new appointees from outside the city be rendered unqualified.
Williamson, planning to hold personal business sessions, has promised to bring a wealth of jobs to Flint by attracting businesses, which he believes can best be done by a businessman and not a career politician.
As mayor, Williamson has announced that his main goals are to beautify the city by implementing a cleanup program and to end the state takeover. He has pledged to help reduce the city's deficit by contributing his personal savings.
Since Aug. 2002, Flint has been under the control of emergency financial manager Ed Kurtz.
Now Williamson and Kurtz find themselves in the midst of a spiraling struggle over who's the boss of whom.
Williamson has demanded that he has the authority to hire and fire mayor-appointed city officials, while Kurtz maintains that he holds this authority until the state takeover is terminated.
However, should Williamson not heed to Kurtz, Kurtz would have the ability to request that Williamson be removed from office, which would be directed to a hearing before the state loan board.
Ultimately, the approval to remove Williamson from office would have to be mandated by Governor Jennifer Granholm herself.
Williamson has made it clear to his constituents that he plans to fire two leaders of economic development in the Flint area that he opposes.
The targets are Todd Brian, president of Flint Genesee Economic Growth Alliance, and Tim Herman, who leads the Genesee Area Focus Council and is president of Uptown Reinvest-ment Corporation, currently refurbishing the bricks on Saginaw Street.
While the law prohibits residential requirements of city officials, Williamson is now attempting to block Kurtz from appointing any new city officials by insisting that new appointees from outside the city be rendered unqualified.
Williamson, planning to hold personal business sessions, has promised to bring a wealth of jobs to Flint by attracting businesses, which he believes can best be done by a businessman and not a career politician.
As mayor, Williamson has announced that his main goals are to beautify the city by implementing a cleanup program and to end the state takeover. He has pledged to help reduce the city's deficit by contributing his personal savings.