Sheldon Neeley

Neeley was born September 20, 1968, to parents Marva and Sam Neeley.{{Cite web |title=Mayor's Office |url=https://www.cityofflint.com/department/mayors-office/ |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=City of Flint |language=en-US}} He was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, graduating from Flint Northern High School in 1986.

Neeley obtained his associate degree from Delta College. He later attended Saginaw Valley State University, though he did not graduate.{{Cite web |last=Camp |first=Terry |title=Flint mayor doesn't have degree from SVSU despite biographies that claimed he does |url=https://www.abc12.com/news/flint-mayor-doesnt-have-degree-from-svsu-despite-biographies-that-claimed-he-does/article_a4ba9610-2ef0-11ed-a008-b7ae39a07e61.html |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=ABC12 WJRT-TV |date=7 September 2022 |language=en}} In October 2022, Neeley received backlash after Fox News Digital published an article revealing that multiple sources, including the Mayor of Flint page on the city's website, claimed he had received a bachelor's degree from Saginaw Valley State University.{{Cite web |last=Fonger |first=Ron |date=2022-09-07 |title=Neeley says political staffer responsible for any claim he graduated from SVSU |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2022/09/neeley-says-political-staffer-responsible-for-any-claim-he-graduated-from-svsu.html |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=mlive |language=en}} He later claimed this error was the fault of a political staffer.

Neeley worked as a broadcast technician for WJRT-TV12 for 27 years. He was the local union president of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communication Workers of America until 2020. He also served as a work experience counselor for 10 years for the Flint Community Schools. For 4 years, he served as CEO of the Flint Inner City Junior Golf League, an organization founded by his father, Sam Neeley.

Neeley first ran for Flint City Council in 2001, losing to incumbent Mark Horrigan in the city’s 6th Ward primary election.{{Cite news |last1=Raymer |first1=Marjory |last2=Machniak |first2=Christofer |last3=Vaughn |first3=Marlon |date=November 7, 2001 |title=Most on City Council Win Easily |pages=A2 |work=The Flint Journal}}

In Neeley's second bid for Flint City Councilship in 2005, Horrigan chose not to run for re-election, instead opting to endorse Neeley. With Horrigan's retirement from the council, the 6th Ward was left without an incumbent councilman.{{Cite news |last=Raymer |first=Marjory |date=May 11, 2005 |title=Schlinker, Horrigan Decide Not to Run Again in Flint |pages=A03 |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley won the 6th Ward’s August 2 primary election, allowing him to move on to the general election, where he faced challenger Nancy DeKatch. Neeley and DeKatch each refrained from issuing attacks against one another throughout their campaigns.{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=The Flint |date=2005-11-08 |title=FLINT: 6th WARD Neeley wins this time |url=https://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2005/11/flint_6th_ward_neeley_wins_thi.html |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=mlive |language=en}} Neeley received an endorsement from the Genesee County Democratic Black Caucus a few days prior to the Flint City Council’s November 8 general election.{{Cite news |last=Raymer |first=Marjory |date=November 4, 2005 |title=Caucus Gives Nod in Seven of Nine Races - HOMETOWN HEADLINES |pages=A06 |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley won election to the Flint City Council by a large margin, receiving nearly three times as many votes as DeKatch in the 6th Ward’s general election. Neeley was elected vice president of the Flint City Council by his peers soon after.{{Cite news |last=Machniak |first=Christofer |date=November 15, 2005 |title=Flint Council Names Buchanan as President - Former Ombudsman Continues Comeback |pages=A03 |work=The Flint Journal}}

Neeley was re-elected vice president of the Flint City Council by his peers in November of both 2006 and 2007.{{Cite news |last=Abercrombie |first=Shena |date=November 15, 2006 |title=Buchanan Keeps Council Post |pages=A04 |work=The Flint Journal}}{{Cite news |last=Raymer |first=Marjorie |date=November 13, 2007 |title=It's 'Madam President' for New Council Leader |pages=A03 |work=The Flint Journal}}

In 2009, Neeley ran for re-election to the Flint City Council. He won a plurality of votes cast in the 6th Ward’s August 4 primary election, advancing to face primary runner-up J.C. Walker in the general election.{{Cite news |last=Atkinson |first=Scott |date=August 6, 2009 |title=Williamson Ties Hurt Candidates |pages=A9 |work=The Flint Journal}} In October, Neeley was endorsed by both the Greater Flint AFL-CIO and the Flint Police Officers Association.{{Cite news |last=Longley |first=Kristin |date=October 14, 2009 |title=Greater Flint AFL-CIO Committee Endorses Flint City Council candidates |work=The Flint Journal}}{{Cite news |date=October 22, 2009 |title=Police association endorses candidates |pages=A10 |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley won re-election to the Flint City Council in the 6th Ward’s general election on November 3.{{Cite web |last=Raymer |first=Marjory |date=2009-11-04 |title=Flint City Council races over |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2009/11/flint_city_council_races_over.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}}

Neeley ran for re-election to the Flint City Council again in 2013. He ran unopposed in Flint’s 6th Ward primary election.{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Dominic |date=August 8, 2013 |title=Power outage: State takeover casts shadow |pages=A3 |work=The Flint Journal}} He also ran unopposed in the general election and was re-elected to the Flint City Council on November 5.{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Dominic |date=November 6, 2013 |title=Flint elects four newcomers to city council, two incumbents retained |work=The Flint Journal}}

In 2014, Neeley ran for election in Michigan’s 34th House of Representatives district. In the Democratic primary, Neeley ran against seven other Democrats, including future Flint mayoral race opponent and then-councilman Eric Mays.{{Cite web |last=Schuch |first=Sarah |date=2014-08-06 |title=8 things to know about how Genesee County voted in the Aug. 5 primary election |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/08/8_things_to_know_about_the_aug.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} At a candidate forum in June 2014, Neeley expressed his support for marriage equality and local law enforcement.{{Cite web |last=Schuch |first=Sarah |date=2014-06-25 |title=Democratic candidates for the 34th District state House seat discuss police, gay marriage during forum |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/06/see_how_democratic_candidates.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} In MLive’s 2014 voter questionnaire, Neeley voiced his opposition to Michigan’s implementation of emergency managers and listed job creation, education, and public safety as top priority issues.{{Cite news |last=Schuch |first=Sarah |date=July 29, 2014 |title=See where the 34th District state House candidates stand on the issues |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley also suggested that elected officials in Flint be subject to drug tests.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Dominic |date=2014-07-29 |title=Drug testing could come to Flint City Council members, appointed officials under proposal |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/07/drug_testing_could_come_to_fli.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}}

On August 5, Neeley won the 34th district Democratic primary with a plurality of votes. He received 2,966 votes, while runner-up Omar Sims received 1,888.{{Cite web |last=Schuch |first=Sarah |date=2014-08-06 |title=Flint City Councilman Sheldon Neeley claims victory in 34th District state House Democratic primary |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/08/flint_councilman_sheldon_neele_1.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} In the Michigan House of Representatives 34th district general election, Neeley faced Republican Bruce Rogers, who ran unopposed in the district’s Republican primary.{{Cite news |last=Schuch |first=Sarah |date=November 2, 2014 |title=See big-ticket issues, candidates on ballot |pages=A4 |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley received more than 90% of votes cast in the general election and was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives on November 2.{{Cite web |last=Schuch |first=Sarah |date=2014-11-06 |title=New face, new goals: Sheldon Neeley to focus on job development, city services as new state rep |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2014/11/sheldon_neeley_to_focus_on_cit.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}}

In 2016, Neeley ran for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives in the state’s 34th district. He went unopposed in the Democratic primary. In the 2016 edition of The Flint Journal’s Voter Guide, Neeley voiced his support for tuition freezing as a temporary solution to rising tuition costs and listed infrastructure repair, environmental safety, law enforcement and economic growth as top priority issues.{{Cite news |date=October 30, 2016 |title=Voter Guide 2016 |pages=V4 |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley beat Republican challenger Page Brousseau in the November 8th general election, receiving nearly 90% of the vote.{{Cite news |date=November 10, 2016 |title=Genesee County Election Results |pages=A4 |work=The Flint Journal}}

Neeley ran for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives again in 2018. Neeley beat opponents Steven Greene and Syrron Williams in the August 7th Democratic primary with nearly 90% of votes cast in the 34th district.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Dominic |date=2018-08-08 |title=9 takeaways from the Genesee County primary election |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/erry-2018/08/dc0bc65b1e6154/9-takeaways-from-the-genesee-c.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} He went on to win the district’s general election, beating Republican Henry Swift with 90% of the vote on November 6.{{Cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Democrat, GOP candidates chosen to represent county |pages=A4 |work=The Flint Journal}}

Neeley ran for Flint Mayor in 2007. When questioned by The Flint Journal, Neeley identified public safety and economic development as key issues in the 2007 mayoral race.{{Cite news |date=August 5, 2007 |title=In their own words - Flint's seven mayoral candidates |pages=A |work=The Flint Journal}} On August 2, Neeley received endorsements from both Sisters United and the Afro-American Police League.{{Cite news |last=Raymer |first=Marjory |date=August 3, 2007 |title=Neeley picks up endorsements - HOMETOWN HEADLINES |pages=A08 |work=The Flint Journal}} Neeley was eliminated in Flint's nonpartisan primary election.{{Cite news |last=Raymer |first=Marjory |date=August 8, 2007 |title=Williamson vs. Walling - Newcomer shows mayor is vulnerable |pages=A01 |work=The Flint Journal}} In October, after then-mayor and candidate for re-election Don Williamson used a photo which featured Neeley in campaign material, the councilman threatened to sue Williamson.{{Cite news |date=October 17, 2007 |title=Neeley wants apology from Williamson - Hometown Headlines |pages=A08 |work=The Flint Journal}} Williamson won re-election as Flint's mayor in November.{{Cite news |last=Raymer |first=Marjory |date=November 8, 2007 |title=Williamson II: Are punches or plaudits in store? |pages=A3 |work=The Flint Journal}}

Neeley ran for Flint Mayor again in 2009. Neeley stressed the importance of economic development during his campaign.{{Cite news |last=Lawlor |first=Joe |date=April 29, 2009 |title=Flint candidates discuss turning economy around, generating jobs |pages=A04 |work=The Flint Journal}} He was eliminated in Flint's nonpartisan primary election.{{Cite news |last=Lawlor |first=Joe |date=May 6, 2009 |title=Election: Walling, Clack to face off in August |pages=A4 |work=The Flint Journal}}

Neeley announced his candidacy for Flint Mayor in April 2019.{{Cite web |last=Bondy |first=Dave |date=2019-04-17 |title=Rep. Sheldon Neeley running for Mayor of Flint |url=https://wwmt.com/news/state/rep-sheldon-nelley-running-for-mayor-of-flint |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=WWMT |language=en}} In the city’s August 6 nonpartisan primary election, Neeley faced Greg Eason, Don Pfeiffer, and incumbent Karen Weaver.{{Cite web |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=2019-08-05 |title=Four candidates vie for Flint mayoral seat in primary |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/08/four-candidates-vie-for-flint-mayoral-seat-in-primary.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} Neeley and Weaver advanced to Flint's general mayoral election after receiving 3,586 votes and 3,815 votes, respectively.{{Cite web |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=2019-08-07 |title=Weaver, Neeley to face off for Flint mayoral seat in November |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/08/weaver-neeley-to-face-off-for-flint-mayoral-seat-in-november.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} Over the course of the 2019 election cycle, Neeley raised $23,465 while Weaver raised $299,738.{{Cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Weaver, Neeley face off in Flint mayor's race |pages=A06 |work=The Flint Journal}} After a number of Flint residents alleged ballot mishandling, Neeley personally requested that the State of Michigan oversee Flint's mayoral election. Neeley's request was denied.{{Cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=November 4, 2019 |title=State won't directly oversee Flint's mayoral election despite candidate's request |work=The Flint Journal}} In the November 5th general election, Neeley won 7,082 votes to Weaver’s 6,877, and Neeley was elected as Flint's mayor.{{Cite web |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=2019-11-06 |title=Sheldon Neeley beats Karen Weaver to become Flint's new mayor |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/11/sheldon-neeley-beats-karen-weaver-to-become-flints-new-mayor.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=State Rep. Neeley ousts Flint Mayor Weaver |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/11/05/election-flint-mayor-race-weaver-neeley/4171254002/ |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}

On February 2, 2022, the Flint Journal published an article stating that Neeley had disclosed his intention to run for re-election as Flint's mayor to the paper on January 31.{{Cite web |last=Fonger |first=Ron |date=2022-02-02 |title=Neeley says he's running for re-election as Flint mayor |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2022/02/neeley-says-hes-running-for-re-election-as-flint-mayor.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}} On May 28, 2022, Governor Whitmer announced her endorsement of Neeley for Mayor of Flint.{{Cite web |last=Newsroom |first=Mid-Michigan NOW |date=2022-05-28 |title=Gov. Whitmer endorses Sheldon Neeley for Flint Mayor re-election |url=https://nbc25news.com/news/local/gov-whitmer-endorses-sheldon-neeley-for-flint-mayor-re-election |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=WEYI |language=en}} Neeley received 4,943 votes (48.8% of those cast) in Flint's nonpartisan primary election held on August 2. Former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was runner-up in the 2022 primary, receiving 4,062 votes (40.1%).{{Cite web |last=Fonger |first=Ron |date=2022-08-03 |title=Neeley, Weaver advance to November showdown in race for Flint mayor |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2022/08/neeley-weaver-advance-to-november-showdown-in-race-for-flint-mayor.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=mlive |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Goetz |first=Dylan |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Primary results |pages=A02 |work=The Flint Journal}} In the Flint mayoral general election on November 8, Neeley netted 11,692 votes, winning a second term as Flint's mayor. Weaver garnered 10,411 votes. Neeley's re-election campaign spending reached a total of $166,000.

Given Flint's strong mayoral powers, the mayor has the ability to appoint government officials, including police and fire chiefs.{{Cite web |last=Ahmad |first=Zahra |date=2019-11-11 |title=Sheldon Neeley sworn in as Flint mayor, starts appointing staff |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/11/sheldon-neeley-sworn-in-as-flint-mayor-starts-appointing-staff.html |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=mlive |language=en}} In November 2019 when Neeley was elected, he appointed Phil Hart as the interim police chief, who was standing in while Neeley found the right officer to fill the important position permanently. In Hart's time as police chief, he had the job of addressing Flint's rising gun violence in a way that would set up for the incoming permanent police chief.{{Cite web |last=mraymer |date=2020-08-10 |title=Phil Hart completes temporary appointment as Flint police chief |url=https://www.cityofflint.com/phil-hart-completes-temporary-appointment-as-flint-police-chief/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=City of Flint |language=en-US}} Neeley and Hart worked together to end the gun buyback program, recruiting new officers, and increasing neighborhood patrol. In September 2020, Terrance Green took over as the permanent Flint police chief. He previously served in the neighboring town of Mt. Morris as police chief, as well as commander for the drug unit of Genesee County.{{Cite web |last=mraymer |date=2020-08-12 |title=Mayor Neeley selects Terence Green to be next Flint police chief |url=https://www.cityofflint.com/mayor-neeley-selects-terence-green-to-be-next-flint-police-chief/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=City of Flint |language=en-US}}

Compared to 2019 when Neeley took office, there was a 30% increase in homicides, ranking Flint the tenth highest city for violent crimes in 2020. In the light of rising homicides and shootings, Neeley asked for emergency state and federal assistance initially in July 2021, but pushed to extend the emergency help indefinitely to try to curb the street violence.{{Cite web |last=Fonger |first=Ron |date=2021-07-29 |title=Flint City Council gives mayor indefinite extension of violent crime emergency |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2021/07/flint-city-council-gives-mayor-indefinite-extension-of-violent-crime-emergency.html |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=mlive |language=en}} Through several executive orders, the Flint Police Department partnered with community mental health professionals to offer trauma counseling and community outreach programs to help the Flint community through this violence.{{Cite web |last=dyoung |date=2021-07-23 |title=Mayor Sheldon Neeley declares a state of emergency to combat gun violence in Flint |url=https://www.cityofflint.com/mayor-sheldon-neeley-declares-a-state-of-emergency-to-combat-gun-violence-in-flint/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=City of Flint |language=en-US}}

In continued efforts to curb the rise of Flint gun violence, Neeley ended the gun buyback program, a program that auctions off confiscated guns back to the public, these funds then go to supporting the Flint police department. Neeley believed ending this program was an essential step towards limiting the guns that return to the streets. The Flint police department now destroyed of all guns that were collected through police work after Neeley's order, which urges that keeping guns out of neighborhoods is more important than the department funding. Neeley states he is not anti-guns but rather is against guns becoming a street currency in Flint.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-30 |title="We will no longer auction off guns," Mayor Neeley announces. "It's just not worth it." Chief Hart says |url=https://www.eastvillagemagazine.org/2020/07/30/we-will-no-longer-auction-off-guns-mayor-neeley-we-will-no-longer-put-these-weapons-back-out-on-the-street-its-just-not-worth-it-chief-hart/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=East Village Magazine |language=en-US}}

The City of Flint began their COVID response on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, by closing City Hall. Flint was the second city in Michigan to acknowledge the pandemic as a state of emergency. However, Neeley did not implement a stay-at-home order, instead asking residents to voluntarily limit their social meetings. Flint is the only city in its area to employ a medical advisor to guide them through the pandemic. The city also implemented a program to provide water bill relief to residents during the pandemic, and was the only city in Michigan to do so.

As of 2019, when Neeley was elected, the Flint water crisis was still an issue in the city. The city was still working on changing its water pipes from lead as well as building a water treatment plant. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act provided $100 million dollars to fund these expenditures. As of July 2016, before Neeley took office, the lead in Flint’s water had been within state levels.{{Cite web |title=FAQ on Flint Water Progress |url=https://www.cityofflint.com/faq-on-flint-water-progress/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=City of Flint |language=en-US}}

On March 8, 2020, Neeley announced his endorsement of Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite web |last=|first=|date=March 8, 2020 |title=Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley Endorses Biden For President |url=https://flintbeat.com/flint-mayor-sheldon-neeley-endorses-biden-for-president-flint-news/ |work=Flint Beat |accessdate=August 6, 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20191106034905/https://housedems.com/neeley Sheldon Neeley at housedems.com]

{{Flint Mayors}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neeley, Sheldon}}

Category:1968 births

Category:20th-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Michigan

Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature

Category:African-American city council members in Michigan

Category:African-American mayors in Michigan

Category:African-American state legislators in Michigan

Category:Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of Flint, Michigan

Category:Michigan city council members

Category:Saginaw Valley State University alumni

Category:Spouses of Michigan politicians