There is something missing for Flint voters this year: racial diversity.
When voters carried Don Williamson and Dayne Walling to victory in Tuesday's primary election, they made history. For the first time since the city adopted a strong mayor form of government, both mayoral nominees are white.
So no matter who wins come November, this majority black city will elect a white man to be in charge.
It's an issue that frustrates some.
A look back at Flint mayoral elections 1975: James Rutherford 20,679
Floyd J. McCree 20,474 1979: James Rutherford 20,738
Floyd J. McCree 12,902 1983: James A. Sharp Jr. 21,718
James Rutherford 20,467 1987: Matt Collier 22,874
James A. Sharp Jr. 19,509 1991: Woodrow Stanley 25,946
Matt Collier 17,686 1995: Woodrow Stanley 21,687
Don Williamson 9,168 1999: Woodrow Stanley 17,224
Scott Kincaid 16,393 2003: Don Williamson 13,906
Floyd Clack 9,228 Source: Flint city clerk's office
"We will remain an oppressed people until we learn how to support our own and support a qualified African-American person," said Donna Poplar, co-chairwoman of Sisters United, a politically active group of black women. "We have too many sell-out black folks."
That's not an objection to white politicians or leadership but frustration with a lack of teamwork and cooperation within the black community, Poplar said.
Tuesday's race featured four black candidates who combined to win a majority of votes from predominantly black precincts and one-third of the vote citywide -- the same percentage won by Williamson, the top finisher.
But the vote was divided among the candidates so that even in predominantly black neighborhoods, no candidate individually received more than Williamson, who also won strong support from blacks when he was elected in 2003.
"It was definitely a matter of the votes being split," said Nancy Fisher, a General Motors retiree who is black and wished there were fewer candidates on the ballot.
Fisher said she is willing to support a white candidate -- "color has nothing to do with the ability to do what you're going to do" -- but she will not follow blindly.
"They have to prove themselves to me," she said. "Do you have my interests at hand? What are you going to do to make a difference?"
While there might be a tendency to embrace Tuesday's vote as a step toward greater racial harmony, the actual numbers show race remains a powerful force in Flint's voting booths.
More than 55 percent of the vote in predominantly black precincts went to one of the four black candidates on Tuesday's ballot. And 88 percent of the votes in predominantly white neighborhoods went to one of the three white candidates.
Turnout was a record low for a mayoral primary in Flint as 16.2 percent of voters cast ballots, according to the city clerk's office.
"We don't go out to voice our opinion where it counts the most," said Frances Gilcreast, president of the Flint NAACP chapter.
According to the most recent U.S. census estimates, Flint's population is 55.8 percent black and 39.3 percent white.
Predominantly black precincts accounted for almost 50 percent of the votes cast Tuesday. Votes from predominantly white precincts accounted for 41 percent. The other 9 percent came from racially mixed precincts.
Flint remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the nation.
In recent history, the City Council has chosen to elect a black president when the mayor is white and vice versa. The city's mayors traditionally have gone out of their way to appoint high-ranking administrators of different ethnicities.
Gilcreast said it is important for the city's leaders to realize that all parts of the city must come together.
"You've got to try to work with whoever is in that position," Gilcreast said. "If you leave our segment of the community out, there is nothing positive that is going to happen in Flint."
Citing health reasons, the Mayor of Flint, Michigan, Don Williamson announced Monday at an 11:20 A.M. news conference that he was resigning from office effective Sunday February 15, 2009 at midnight. Williamson, age 75, indicated that he had multiple sinus infections and kidney stones since November 1 and his doctors wanted him to slow down by reducing his schedule.
Genesee County, Michigan (orange).
A number of events has lead to speculation about Williamson's resignation. His interim Police Chief, David Dicks, has been charged with defrauding the United States government stemming from the Federal investigation into his father's security company, City Security, and its contract with Career Alliance in January. Further, a recall election was scheduled for February 24. The snap selection of Michael Brown to be the new Flint City Administrator and his current City Administrator Darryl Buchanan to the non-City Charter position of "deputy mayor" last week Wednesday. Last Thursday a press conference, originally announced to explain the switch in City Administrators and the position of "deputy mayor," was canceled. And finally, on Friday the Interim Police Chief David Forystek was replaced with a new Interim Police Chief, John Keahey. This returned Forystek to department's traffic bureau.  

Over the last weekend, Williamson denied the rumors. Buchanan was at the press conference while Brown did not attend.

Williamson is a multi-millionaire. He is majority stockholder and chairman of the publicly traded The Colonel's International Inc. (Nasdaq:COLO).

Williamson first stepped onto the political field by running for Mayor of Flint in 1991 but failed to get out the primary. In 1999 he lost to Woodrow Stanley in the general election. In 2003 election — the first full term election after the recall of Stanley — Williamson won the office of Mayor, while the city was still under state financial administration, succeeding Mayor James W. Rutherford into office.

In 2007, Williamson won a narrow re-election over Dayne Walling. He was only drawing a US$1 per year salary. A number of problems have cropped up since then including budget deficits, layoffs, and proposed drag strip.

Some leaders in the community that were surprised at his resignation. The ''Flint Journal'' quoted Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton as stating "I'm shocked." While County Sheriff Robert Pickell stated to the ''Journal'' that he was "absolutely shocked that the mayor resigned." Pickel added, that "with Darryl Buchanan working with Mr. Brown, it will be a good team."

City Councilor, and Williamson opponent, Scott Kincaid is quoted by ABC 12 News as stating that this "was a super-fantastic day" for the city of Flint. City Councilor Jackie Poplar said "Hallelujah!" to ABC 12. 

According to the City Charter, Michael Brown as the Flint City Administrator will take over as Temporary Mayor, with no veto nor ability to remove mayorial appointees with out City Council approval. A primary will be scheduled for the May election date and the general election in August for a replacement mayor.

The recall was based on charges that Williamson mishandled city funds and misstated the status of the city's finances. An additional recall charge according to recall supporters was he disregarded public safety by moving to eliminate 59 police officers and nine firefighters.