FLINT, MI - State Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint, is running for the Flint mayoral seat.

The former Flint 6th Ward councilman said he made the decision last week after “weighing and praying over it for some time.” Neeley turned in his petition to City Hall on Tuesday, April 16.

“There is personal leadership that’s necessary and needed in the city of Flint to restore trust, transparency and truth,” Neeley said. “I think the residents of Flint are really ready to transition.”

Neeley was elected as a state representative in 2014 and has served three consecutive terms. Prior to that, Neeley served the 6th Ward for nine years. He’s served as the chairperson for the legislative black caucus in the House of Representatives for the past four years.

In 2009, Neeley ran for Flint mayor but lost to former Flint Mayor Dane Walling.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver announced plans to run for reelection on April 9. The deadline for candidate petitions is April 23.

If elected, Neeley said restructuring City Hall is important in reestablishing trust with Flint residents.

“Every department, from budget to legal, there is a lack of capacity in order to really deliver the services necessary to improve the quality of life for Flint residents,” Neeley said. “There is definitely a lack of vision.”

Removing and replacing all of the residential lead service lines in Flint doesn’t mark the end of the water crisis, Neeley said.

“Flint is a traumatized community and there has been very little done to reestablish trust,” Neeley said. “There is a crisis in the confidence of government and the way you rebuild that is through transparency, you have to be grounded in truth. Truth and transparency have to be forthcoming in any form of leadership, those are definitely lacking. There are a lot of questions out there going unanswered.”

Neeley said his goal is to provide a government that provides “transparency and government that actually services the people.”

“As mayor of Flint, I will build an infrastructure around cleaning up blight, fixing our streets and creating an environment that is conducive to economic development,” Neeley said.

Neeley said recreation, economic development, safety, residential and education should be improved in Flint.

“Those things are not black and white or rich and poor, these are qualities every walk of life desires,” Neeley said.

Neeley stated he was able to introduce legislation that improved the state’s quality of drinking water, provided the Flint Promise, a free-college program for Flint students, and the Good Job Skill Package, that attracted LEAR to open a location in Flint.

“We want to create an infectious environment where people want to live in and keep our communities clean,” Neeley said.