The Flint City Council has nine members, one elected from each of the city’s nine wards. Under Flint’s strong mayor-council charter, the council holds the city’s legislative authority: it passes ordinances, approves the mayor’s budget, levies taxes, authorizes bonds, and can investigate any city department.1City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Section 1-101, Section 3-101 The mayor runs daily operations; the council checks that work.
Who Represents Each Ward
Members elect a president and vice president from among themselves for one-year terms.2City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Section 3-103 As of 2026, the council is:
- Ward 1 — Leon El-Alamin3City of Flint. City Council – 1st Ward
- Ward 2 — Ladel Lewis, Council President4City of Flint. Flint City Council Meeting Minutes
- Ward 3 — LaShawn Johnson, who won an August 2025 special election after the passing of Councilman Quincy Murphy5City of Flint. City of Flint Mourns the Loss of Flint City Councilman Quincy Murphy
- Ward 4 — Judy Priestly
- Ward 5 — Jerri Winfrey-Carter
- Ward 6 — Tonya Burns
- Ward 7 — Candice Mushatt, Vice President
- Ward 8 — Dennis Pfeiffer
- Ward 9 — Jonathan Jarrett6City of Flint. City Council – 9th Ward
Ward boundaries were last redrawn for the 2024 map. If you’re not sure which ward you live in, the city publishes an interactive ward map.7City of Flint. Ward Map
What the Council Does
Section 3-101 of the city charter sets out the council’s authority. Members enact local ordinances, review and approve the annual budget the mayor submits, levy taxes, authorize bonds, and conduct investigations into city departments and agencies.8City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Section 3-101 The council also appoints the City Clerk and the City Auditor, who serve at the council’s pleasure and operate independently of the mayor’s office.9City of Flint. Flint City Charter
Ordinances can be introduced in writing by any member or by the mayor. After the council passes an ordinance, the mayor has 168 hours (seven days) to sign it or file a written veto. The council can override a veto by a two-thirds vote within two weeks.10City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Sections 3-302, 3-303, 3-305
On spending, the council’s approval is required before the mayor’s proposed budget takes effect. Public entity purchases above $10,000 require council approval under the city’s purchasing code, and other tiers of spending are set by ordinance. The council also acts on zoning and land-use recommendations from the Planning Commission.11City of Flint. City of Flint Planning Commission Agenda
Committees and Meeting Schedule
The detailed work moves through four standing committees before reaching the full council:12City of Flint. City Council
- Finance, which reviews budget proposals, expenditures, and fiscal matters
- Legislative, which handles proposed ordinances and resolutions
- Governmental Operations, which oversees city department operations and administrative matters
- Special Affairs, which handles miscellaneous and special items
Committee meetings are held at 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesdays before regular council Mondays. The Special Affairs Committee session and the Regular meeting take place on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.12City of Flint. City Council
Terms, Qualifications, and Pay
Council members serve four-year terms. To run, a candidate must be a registered voter in Flint, live in the ward they want to represent, and have lived in the city for at least a year before the election or appointment. Anyone convicted of violating Michigan election laws, or of a felony involving a breach of public trust, is barred from serving. Because candidates must be qualified electors, the practical minimum age is 18.13City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Section 3-103
Members cannot hold any other city office or city employment while serving, and must wait one year after leaving office before accepting any paid city position.14City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Section 3-104 Service is capped at three consecutive four-year terms, after which a member must sit out four years before running again for the same seat.15City of Flint. Flint City Charter – Section 2-202
Pay in 2026 is $26,500 a year, up from $25,000 in 2025. The Local Officers Compensation Commission sets the salary, so council members do not vote on their own pay.
Members are classified as “public servants” under the charter and are bound by ethics rules on outside employment, representing private parties before the city, using office for personal gain, and accepting gifts from anyone doing business with or seeking action from the city.16City of Flint. Ethics Training – Charter Section 1-405
When a Seat Opens Mid-Term
If a seat becomes vacant with more than 18 months left on the term, the remaining members must appoint a replacement within 30 days from eligible ward residents who submit résumés, and a special election follows so voters can choose a permanent successor. If fewer than 18 months remain, the appointee serves out the term and no special election is held. That is the process Ward 3 went through after Councilman Murphy’s death.
Contacting Your Council Member
Phone numbers and email addresses for each ward office are listed in the contact directory on the City of Flint website.12City of Flint. City Council The general council office can be reached through the City Council Secretary at 810-766-7418.
To speak at a meeting, wait for the public participation portion, get permission from the presiding officer, go to the microphone, and state your name and address. Comments are limited to three minutes and are addressed to the council as a whole; the rules do not allow back-and-forth with individual members during that segment.17City of Flint. Rules Governing Meetings of the Council – Rule 10