[LMich]

I'd like to see Walling get a chance. From what little I've seen and researched on him, he seems completely genuine and not in this for the fame. That's not to say that Clack is, but Flint needs some young blood up top, you know, give Flint it's own Obama. lol

Flint mayoral race could become west side story

by Joe Lawlor | The Flint Journal
Wednesday May 06, 2009, 10:54 PM

FLINT, Michigan -- Dayne Walling vows to win black votes in the north end.

Brenda Clack said she's going to campaign in Walling's white stronghold in the College Cultural District.

But the campaign for Flint's next mayor may be decided in the more racially mixed neighborhoods on the city's west side.

"I will be watching the Bradley Street area up to McLaren hospital," said Genesee County Clerk Michael Carr, a longtime election watcher. "That will be very interesting to see."

Walling and Clack were the top two winners in Tuesday's six-way mayoral primary to decide who would compete in the August general election.

Walling captured 44 percent of the vote, while Clack finished a distant second with 16 percent.

If the battle comes down to the west side, both campaigns have reason for hope.

Walling ran up big numbers on Tuesday in some parts of the west side, including Mott Park and the Corunna Road corridor.

But Clack lives on the west side and represented the area when she was a state representative.

Tuesday, she won the west side area north of Flushing Road, bordering the Flint Township line, and she tied Walling in the adjacent precinct to the east.

"I think the whole west side will be a swing district," Walling said.

Clack said she has been noticing that the west side is becoming more racially diverse.

Neighborhoods that used to be mostly white are now diverse, and vice versa.

But Clack said it's time to move past race-based campaigning.

"I don't want to make this campaign about race," Clack said. "We need to deal with the issues. I'm not going to single out a group and say, 'I'm going to serve you more.'"

Nevertheless, votes in Flint often break along racial lines.

Carr said he sees both candidates making inroads with voters of the other race.

"I think Walling will be able to pick up black votes," Carr said. "Conversely, I think Clack will appeal to some white voters. She is very well-known, liked and trusted."

Resident Sonia Latta, who is black and a Clack supporter, said so many people know her from her community activism and her roots as a teacher.

"She is going to take it all the way," Latta said. "She has a huge following.

Walling said he was proud to be competitive in a few black precincts that he targeted with extra door-to-door campaigning, phone calls and mailings. Walling ended up winning two black precincts, one on the north end and one on the south end.

"I wanted to prove that we could win African-American support even in a primary with five African-American candidates," Walling said. "I believe the voters in this city don't care about race or skin color."

In one black precinct off of Lapeer Road, near Perani Arena, Walling outpaced Clack by 30 votes.

Carr said the streets south of Lapeer Road in that precinct traditionally have featured homes where more affluent blacks live. He said Walling has strong appeal with higher-income residents.

Carr said money may also be a big factor. While Walling has proven to be a prolific fund-raiser, Carr said, Clack isn't as well-funded.

"Can she raise the money?" Carr said. "She never really needed a lot of money in her other races."

Walling spent $45,000, while Clack spent $11,000, according to pre-election reports filed with the county.