The clock is ticking for Flint mayoral candidate Eric Mays to find enough validate signatures to guarantee a spot for him on the November ballot.
Flint voters are electing a mayor this fall.
Councilman Eric Mays fell 48 signatures short of the 900 needed for a spot on the ballot.
Other candidates missed the filing deadline because of a mistake by the city clerk. The clerk said the nominating petitions were due by April 28th, when the actual deadline was April 21st.
Eric Mays convinced a court to let him scour his petitions for rejected signatures worth a second look. He says he’s found about 15 to 25 so far. But Mays only has until Thursday to find the rest.
“The court wants to go over the list that we don’t agree on by the 28th,” says Mays.
A final decision on the disputed signatures could come next week.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers may allow Mays and three other candidates to face off in the August primary.
The State Senate has already agreed. But the bill is currently stalled in the State House.
If successful, the proposal would allow incumbent Mayor Dayne Walling, Dr. Karen Weaver, Councilman Wantwaz Davis and Mays to appear on the August primary ballot. All had enough valid signatures on petitions handed in after the deadline.
If unsuccessful, all four candidates would have to run write-in campaigns in November.
If Mays is successful in getting enough signatures ruled valid, he alone would appear by name on the November ballot.
