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Steve Myers
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A man once fired by the City Council now leads it.
First Ward Councilman Darryl E. Buchanan, who was fired as city ombudsman in 1995, was elected council president Monday, beating 5th Ward Councilwoman Carolyn Sims by a vote of 6-3.
Buchanan and 6th Ward Councilman Sheldon A. Neeley, who was elected as vice president, will hold the nine-member panel's leadership posts for the next year.
Buchanan promised more professional meetings, fairness in leading the council and a new cooperation with Mayor Don Williamson.
"This is a new beginning and we're moving forward and not looking back," he said after the meeting. "I want to one day say Flint is the comeback city of America."
But it's Buchanan, 51, who has quite a comeback story. A recovering alcoholic since 1989, he lost his job as ombudsman less than a year into his appointment after the council held hearings that detailed charges that included harassment, poor management and lack of training.
Buchanan denied any wrongdoing, and a judge reinstated him as ombudsman. But he lost in the state Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
In his fight to get his old job back, Buchanan had to file for bankruptcy in 1999 after racking up nearly $86,000 in debts. He said he since has gotten out of bankruptcy, and he was first elected to the council in 2001, winning by 60 votes.
He said he hopes his life can be an example for others.
"Everyone wants a testimony with no trial," he said. "I've had my trial, but now I have my testimony and this testimony is for any student in the city of Flint who thinks they can't make it. Look at me. If I can do it, they can do it, but they must get humble and they must ask God to show them some direction."
As president, Buchanan likely will have a higher public profile. He'll chair regular meetings, get a slightly higher salary than other members and move into a separate spacious office at City Hall.
Before the city's financial emergency, the post also came with a city car, but Buchanan said if he's offered a vehicle, he'll stick with his 1980 El Dorado given to him by his grandmother "until the wheels fall off."
Buchanan, a strong ally of Williamson, was the odds-on favorite to replace Johnnie Coleman, who along with three other incumbents were defeated in last week's election. He was one of four winning candidates on a Williamson slate that campaigned on ending a more-than-year-long bitter feud between the mayor and the council over the budget, appointments and block grant funds.
Voting for Buchanan were himself, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Foster Poplar, 3rd Ward Councilman Kerry Nelson, 4th Ward Councilwoman Sandy Hill, 7th Ward Councilman Jim Ananich, and 8th Ward Councilman Ehren Gonzales. Voting for Sims were herself, Neeley and 9th Ward Councilman Scott Kincaid.
Williamson, who attended the meeting along with other top city officials, said Buchanan was the best choice for president.
"Buchanan is a very, very honest person," he said. "He's above reproach. It was a very, very intelligent move, especially since all of our new council members don't have the experience and the knowledge of that going into the new year."
Full Story:
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-33/113207340361020.xml&coll=5 |
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Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:00 pm |
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Steve Myers
Site Admin
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Darryl E. Buchanan
AGE: 51.
EMPLOYMENT: New Flint City Council president; Baker College of Flint adjunct political science professor and owner of Alecha Educational Consulting.
FAMILY: Single; two adult children, six grandchildren |
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Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:01 pm |
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