Learning from Flint

[XLFD]

Former Flint Mayor Don Williamson has a giant bronze statue of himself surrounded by six bronze lion statues outside the gated entrance to his home.

Neighbors say the lions were put up first, followed by statue of Williamson within the last month.

Etched on the back of the base of the statue is: "The Colonel's Inc. Founded by Donald J. Williamson May 10, 1984. His motto 'Success is the best revenge.'"

No one answered the phone at the security gate, which is adorned with a giant "W," Wednesday, Oct. 31, when The Flint Journal attempted to gather more information about the statue.

Williamson said the statue originally stood in The Colonel's Inc., a company that manufactures bumpers and truck bedliners.

The building where Williamson made his fortune in Owosso burned down in 1993 in a suspected arson with damages estimated at $32 million, according to The Flint Journal archives.

"That statue was done 20 years ago in Del Rey Beach, Calif.," Williamson said.

The six lions were imported by Williamson's wife, Patsy Lou, he said.

"Careful, one of them is alive," he joked.

A couple who lives nearby said they saw the statues put up and other work on Williamson's property.

"I think it's funny," said Amy Duncan. "It's ridiculous."

After the statues were put up her husband Ryan Duncan said they wondered what other work Williamson would do at the property.

"I said, 'What's he doing, building a moat?'" Ryan Duncan joked. "It's a joke. Someone is going to do something to that statue."

Williamson resigned as mayor in 2009 just before he was about to be recalled.

Less than two years after the recall, Williamson and his wife moved out of their longtime home in Flint on Parkside Drive.

The couple moved to a home they built on Sugarbush Golf Course, which also is owned by Williamson, according to The Flint Journal's archives.

Williamson said they're in the process of landscaping the property while putting the final touches on a garage.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/11/giant_statue_erec...

Williamson's life:  Williamson was convicted for several business scams in 1962  and served 3 years in prison before being paroled. These involved buying cars with bad checks and purchasing items without actually paying for them. He faced incumbent Mayor Woodrow Stanley in 1999 and lost. In 2003, Williamson was elected to the first full term of Flint Mayor since the recall of Woodrow  Stanley.  Woodrow Stanley was elected to three terms as Mayor until he was recalled in 2002 (his third term)due to the city's shaky financial condition and a state appointed Financial Manager was appointed after he left office, and was removed shortly thereafter (until Williamson's failures in his second term).

During the 2007 election for a second term, Williamson claimed that the city had an $8.9 million surplus. However, after the mayoral elections, it was revealed that the city was in a $4 million deficit. Williamson had to fire 60 city employees and proposed firing 60 police officers and 9 firefighters, and closing the city jail.

His administration during the first term had reported a balance budget for fiscal year 2005, 2006 and said he had delivered a balanced budget for fiscal year 2007. The City of Flint received a national budget award for 2006.  The Budget Director was replaced, and the city immediately began a downward spiral of "emergency spending" leading to the city finishing the 2007-08 fiscal year with an $8.3 million deficit, and likely staring at another multi-million dollar deficit in 2009.  Current estimates for the deficit exceed 14 million dollars

On October 2008, petitions were submitted in the city clerk's office to recall Williamson as mayor. There were enough valid signatures and with legal challenges by Williamson unsuccessful, a recall election was scheduled for February 24, 2009.

Williamson began making major changes in who filled the department head positions and even replaced the City Administrator, Darryl Buchanan, with Michael Brown and naming Buchanan to the nonexistent position of deputy mayor.  On February 8, 2009, Williamson announced his resignation as mayor, just before the recall election.

This perhaps shows why the State Proposal One may be a good idea to keep, because the Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs) can have a positive effect in similar circumstances.  It also illustrates that long-term incumbent mayors appear to work to the detriment of an area's well-being.  Even if they are immortalized in bronze.

[Willy]

 I scrolled down as usual, reading your excellent article and boom, Henderson again. That is so funny. I can't stop laughing.  I wonder when those who are pushing for Henderson's proposal to extend his reign will have a statue erected in his honor.  I say put the statue at the dog park so the little pooches can water his shoes.

[XLFD]

I'll make you choke on your coffee, yet, Willy. 

The dog park would be a good site, but I think any statue erected for Hizzoner should be along his million dollar transient docks.  At least, from a distance, it will look like someone was actually using them.

[Guidothesemipsuedocaptitalistpig]

I am sure something has erected in his honor.................................................................................................

[AQUAMAN]

Sounds like he's a legend in his own mind quite the sameo as Henderson and his cronies. Ludington has had many Mayors with more pizzaz and accomplishments with LOCALS than Henderson could ever dream.