Don Williamson
Encyclopedia
Donald J. Williamson is a former mayor
of Flint, Michigan
and businessman. He is the husband of Patsy Lou Williamson, owner of several car dealerships in the Flint
area, and chairman of The Colonel's International, Inc.
and Colonel's and merged them into The Colonel's International, Inc.
in 1999 and lost. Williamson was elected to the first full term of Flint Mayor since the recall of Woodrow Stanley
defeating former State Representative Floyd Clack
. Willamson faced off with Flint Club founder and former president, Dayne Walling
, in 2007 winning reelection.
Williamson was accused of bribing citizens for votes by handing out more than $20,000 at the car dealership that his wife owns as part of a "Customer Appreciation Day." Each recipient of the money was given campaign literature.
In both elections, Williamson, a Democrat, was opposed by the state Democratic party for a variety of reasons, including his campaign donations both he and his wife made to George W. Bush. They contributed the maximum amount.
He appointed Darryl Buchanan
, a city councilman, to be the City Administrator after his second term election.
At present, the city is in a $9 million deficit, much of it due to the various lawsuits against Don Williamson himself.
In February, 2008, Williamson sued Flint city clerk Inez Brown for not convening a panel to investigate "her profane and threatening" language with an employee. During the Flint mayoral election he pointed to hundreds of miles of paved roads as one of his proudest achievements as mayor.
Time magazine named Flint the "most dangerous city in America" in a 2007 issue. The 14th Annual CQ press publication of "Most Dangerous Cities in America" ranked Flint third.
Williamson ran for governor of Michigan in 2010.
was scheduled for February 24, 2009.
, with Michael Brown
and naming Buchanan to the nonexistent position of deputy mayor. On February 8, 2009, Williamson announced his resignation as mayor effective Saturday. Under Michigan law, the scheduled recall election was canceled. On February 16, 2009, city administrator Michael Brown became temporary mayor.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
and businessman. He is the husband of Patsy Lou Williamson, owner of several car dealerships in the Flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
area, and chairman of The Colonel's International, Inc.
Past
Williamson was convicted for several business scams in 1962 and served 3 years in prison before being paroled. These involved buying cars with bad checks and purchasing items without actually paying for them. Williamson also owns Brainerd International RacewayBrainerd International Raceway
Brainerd International Raceway is a road course, dragstrip and kart track near Brainerd, Minnesota, USA. The raceway hosts the National Hot Rod Association Nationals.-History:...
and Colonel's and merged them into The Colonel's International, Inc.
Political life
Don Williamson made it out of the primary and faced incumbent Mayor Woodrow StanleyWoodrow Stanley
Woodrow Stanley, a Democratic Party politician, is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 34th District. He was a former mayor of Flint that was recalled from office in 2002.- Early life :...
in 1999 and lost. Williamson was elected to the first full term of Flint Mayor since the recall of Woodrow Stanley
Woodrow Stanley
Woodrow Stanley, a Democratic Party politician, is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 34th District. He was a former mayor of Flint that was recalled from office in 2002.- Early life :...
defeating former State Representative Floyd Clack
Floyd Clack
Floyd Clack is a Michigan educator and politician who currently serves as a member of the Eastern Michigan University board of regents. Among other offices he has served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives....
. Willamson faced off with Flint Club founder and former president, Dayne Walling
Dayne Walling
-Public and Business Life:Walling was a founder and president of the Flint Club.-Political career:In 2007, Walling ran against Don Williamson in the mayoral race losing to Williamson...
, in 2007 winning reelection.
Election Controversy
During the 2007 election, Williamson claimed that the city had an $8.9 million surplus. However, after the mayoral elections, it was revealed that the city was in a $4 million deficit. Williamson had to fire 60 city employees and proposed firing 60 police officers and 9 firefighters, and closing the city jail.Williamson was accused of bribing citizens for votes by handing out more than $20,000 at the car dealership that his wife owns as part of a "Customer Appreciation Day." Each recipient of the money was given campaign literature.
In both elections, Williamson, a Democrat, was opposed by the state Democratic party for a variety of reasons, including his campaign donations both he and his wife made to George W. Bush. They contributed the maximum amount.
Administration
His administration had reported a balance budget for fiscal year 2005, 2006 and has delivered a balanced budget for fiscal year 2007. The City of Flint received a national budget award for 2006. The Budget Director was replaced, and the city immediately began a downward spiral of "emergency spending" leading to the city finishing the 2007-08 fiscal year with an $8.3 million deficit, and likely staring at another multi-million dollar deficit in 2009. Current estimates for the deficit exceed 14 million dollars.He appointed Darryl Buchanan
Darryl Buchanan
Darryl E. Buchanan is a politician, former City Administrator and City Ombudsman of the City of Flint, Michigan.-Early life:He was age 18 in 1972 becoming the first 18-year-olds to vote in a presidential election.-Political:...
, a city councilman, to be the City Administrator after his second term election.
At present, the city is in a $9 million deficit, much of it due to the various lawsuits against Don Williamson himself.
In February, 2008, Williamson sued Flint city clerk Inez Brown for not convening a panel to investigate "her profane and threatening" language with an employee. During the Flint mayoral election he pointed to hundreds of miles of paved roads as one of his proudest achievements as mayor.
Time magazine named Flint the "most dangerous city in America" in a 2007 issue. The 14th Annual CQ press publication of "Most Dangerous Cities in America" ranked Flint third.
Williamson ran for governor of Michigan in 2010.
Recall campaign
On October 2008, petitions were submitted in the city clerk's office to recall Williamson as mayor. There were enough valid signatures and with legal challenges by Williamson unsuccessful, a recall electionRecall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
was scheduled for February 24, 2009.
Resignation
Williamson began making major changes in who filled the department head positions and even replaced the City Administrator, Darryl BuchananDarryl Buchanan
Darryl E. Buchanan is a politician, former City Administrator and City Ombudsman of the City of Flint, Michigan.-Early life:He was age 18 in 1972 becoming the first 18-year-olds to vote in a presidential election.-Political:...
, with Michael Brown
Michael Brown (Michigan politician)
Michael Brown is the current Emergency Manager for the City of Flint. He also served as former Temporary Mayor and City Administrator of the City of Flint, Michigan after the resignation of Don Williamson.-Public service:...
and naming Buchanan to the nonexistent position of deputy mayor. On February 8, 2009, Williamson announced his resignation as mayor effective Saturday. Under Michigan law, the scheduled recall election was canceled. On February 16, 2009, city administrator Michael Brown became temporary mayor.