FLINT, MI -- Dayne Walling, who lost his job as mayor of Flint as the city's water crisis unfolded, says he's running for a seat in the state Legislature.

"Our democracy is under attack right now. We're in a tough fight but I'm not giving up or going away," Walling said in a Twitter message Monday, Jan. 29. "Michigan's future will be decided in Lansing, and that's why I'm running for state representative in the Michigan 49th House District."

Walling isn't alone in his pursuit of the position currently held by state Rep. Phil Phelps, D-Flushing, who is term-limited from seeking re-election later this year.

Lashaya Darisaw, Flint organizing director for Michigan United, and John Cherry, who has worked in performance management, employee engagement and process improvement for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, have also formed campaign committees.

Phelps won election to the state House in a special election in 2013 and was re-elected twice since. The 49th District includes portions of Flint, Flint Township, Mt. Morris, Mt. Morris Township, Flushing and Swartz Creek.

In his tweets Monday, Walling wrote, "There's a lot that's not right. Schools are focused on standardized tests instead of preparing students for careers and college. The infrastructure above ground and below ground is failing all around us. The economy is going against workers and small businesses.

"We need to get our state government back on our side. I look forward to talking with people in every community in the district and discussing ideas on how we can improve our state as the campaign moves ahead."

Walling, 43, is a former Rhodes Scholar and was a field coordinator for former U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee. Before his loss to Weaver in the Flint mayoral election in 2015, he had been elected Flint's mayor twice previously -- to a partial term in 2009 and a full four-year term in 2011.

During the most recent campaign, however, he was dogged by criticism of his handling of Flint's water emergency even though his powers as mayor were limited by the appointment of a series of emergency managers during most of his last term.

Although he eventually broke ranks with state officials in defending Flint water quality, Walling had been an initial booster of the decision to return the city's treatment plant to full-time operation, using water the Flint River, in 2014.

In a ceremony at the water plant in April 2014, he pushed the button that turned off the supply of pre-treated water from the city of Detroit and joined in a toast of Flint River water with other officials.

The changes in water source and production in Flint lead to the water crisis, and Darisaw said Walling's performance is reason enough for him not to represent the area in Lansing.

"He did not support the citizens of Flint ... He wouldn't even meet with them," said Darisaw, who said her campaign will focus on grassroots campaigning, advocacy and transparency.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Cherry, the son of former Lt. Gov. John Cherry and state Rep. Pam Faris, but Phelps said he's endorsing him.

"He's got a lot of knowledge how state government works," Phelps said. "He's a chip off his father -- he really is."

Walling recently was back in the public eye when he was called to testify during a preliminary examination for Eden Wells, the state's chief medical executive, in December.

Walling said he wasn't told many of the details about potential problems with Flint water, including suspicions that the Flint River might be the source of outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease.

The former mayor said he's prepared to discuss his record as mayor but also plans to talk with people throughout district about issues in their areas.

"I hope people will look closely at the full record," he said.