Mayoral candidates meet for final debate

FLINT (WJRT) (WJRT) -- (08/05/07)--Two days before the primary election, Flint's mayoral candidates squared off in one last forum on Sunday night.

Tempers flared during Sunday night's mayoral forum.

The gathering drew one write-in candidate and all seven official candidates, including incumbent mayor Don Williamson -- for the first time.

Organizers claim they invited all candidates to the forum. At least one candidate said he never got the letter.

But they all showed up, and the audience got quite a show.

One look at t-shirts showed you there were few undecided voters.

Instead, the church was full of vocal supporters. Each candidate seemed to the preach to the choir.

"Flint is going up in crime, Flint is going up in unemployment," said  candidate Norm Bryant.

"The first topic I'm gonna speak on, as we all know, is the youth." candidate David Davenport said.

"Our first priority must be to strike at the heart of crime in our city," candidate Tamra Edwards said.

Candidate Dayne Walling announced, "Too many of our families have been robbed of the American dream."

"You need to understand what people are going through in the city of Flint, and I don't think the current leadership does that," candidate Dale Weighill said.

Write-in candidate John Beatty targeted the chief of police. "We do need a real police chief, not someone that's been appointed by someone higher up."

"This charter has been abused," candidate Sheldon Neeley said.

For the first time this election cycle, incumbent mayor Don Williamson spoke at a forum. That's when the room heated up. "We probably have the most honest, most effective chief of police you ever seen. I have to apologize for the people in this room. I'm up here and I'm speaking and I wish that you'd shut up and let me talk!"

The mayor left right after his speech.

He tells ABC12 the crowd was rude and disrespectful. Onlooker Sharlene Hill agreed.   "Whoever wants to run for mayor has that right. Let them speak, let them let them talk. The people in the audience are acting like children."

Flint police were on hand to quiet things down.

As emotions ran high, the scene was set for Tuesday's primary.

Williamson also said he attended this debate because it was first one where he had no scheduling conflict.

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