Flint mayoral contest heating up

FLINT (WJRT) -- (06/30/09)--With just five weeks to go until the election, the race to become Flint's next mayor is heating up.

<!--Enter text below--> One candidate picked up a big endorsement Tuesday. The other is planning an announcement Wednesday about how to fight crime within the city.

Surrounded by his family and Flint police officers, Dayne Walling got the key endorsement.

"I've been able to listen to the officers over these years and they know that I understand what they face on a daily basis," he said.

The police union also backed Walling two years ago when he ran against former Mayor Don Williamson.

Walling lost that campaign, but Williamson retired in February. In the last five weeks before a special election, Walling is promising an increased media blitz.

"There's a lot of energy building in this community," he said.

"I am collecting my endorsements, which I will bring forward at a certain time," said Flint mayoral candidate Brenda Clack, Walling's opponent.

Clack expects to continue her door-to-door campaign in this home stretch. She's announcing her plans to fight crime in the city during a news conference Wednesday, despite losing the police union's support.

"I find it interesting because I was not invited to come before the organization to be endorsed. And I think would have had something to add," she said.

"We don't send out any invitations," said Flint Police Officers Association President Keith Speer.

"We react when people contact us. And we never contacted by anyone from her side."

Mott Community College political analyst Paul Rozycki says the endorsement could be a big one.

"It's been a quiet race," he said.

But Rozycki thinks Walling still has a long way to go before he earns the support of Flint's large African-American community.

"I think both candidates are saving their ammunition<" he said. "We're not seeing a race like we had with Williamson, where you had an unlimited supply of money to spend."

Both candidates are also preparing for a debate on July 21, hosted by ABC12 and the Flint Journal.

The debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on our Web site.

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