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Defense attorney Matthew Norwood says Kathy Funk 'shocked' by ballot tampering charges
Defense attorney Matthew Norwood says Kathy Funk 'shocked' by ballot tampering charges
Defense attorney Matthew Norwood says Kathy Funk 'shocked' by ballot tampering charges
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT TWP. (CCN) — The embattled former Flint Township Clerk stood mute in a Monday (March 14, 2022) court appearance but defense attorney Matthew Norwood said his client was "shocked" by the charges read against her.
"She denies all wrongdoing and was shocked by the criminal charges," Norwood told T
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT TWP. (CCN) — The embattled former Flint Township Clerk stood mute in a Monday (March 14, 2022) court appearance but defense attorney Matthew Norwood said his client was "shocked" by the charges read against her.
"She denies all wrongdoing and was shocked by the criminal charges," Norwood told The Daily Gazette after he entered not guilty pleas to two felony charges for Kathy Funk. One was for ballot tampering and the second one was for misconduct in office.
She faces up to five years in prison on each count, if convicted. The charges are elated to the August 2020 election when she won by a slim margin over Manya Triplett. Funk resigned last year to take a job as Supervisor of Elections for Genesee County Clerk John Gleason. (Click Here to Read Related Stories About Funk and Gleason)
"She has always done what has been asked of her and she loves being a clerk," defense attorney Norwood told The Daily Gazette. "Please keep in mind that we are waiting to see the police report. The allegations that were read in court this morning were something that simply never occurred."
Assistant Attorney General Richard Cunningham asked Genesee County 67th District Judge Jessica Hammon to issue a warrant on Friday (March 11, 2022) for the arrest of Funk. She turned herself in three days later with Norwood at her side.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said: "Election officials must uphold the integrity of their positions. Those who abuse that commitment undermine the very foundation of our democracy. Our department is committed to prosecuting election violations, regardless of the political party of the perpetrator."
Funk was previously represented by Jack Beltzer of Grand Blanc when State Police made a warrant request to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton. He recused his office because he said Funk was a current county employee.
Beltzer said Funk previously worked for him and he called the charges "completely out of character" for the employee he once had work in his office. Funk is also a former staff writer for the community newspaper chain of Tri-County Publishing Inc. which owns this online newspaper.
Funk also worked 16 years for Flint Township before she was elected in 2016 as the township clerk. She was re-elected in 2020 but State Police began questioning alleged irregularities in how Funk conducted the election.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is defense attorney Matthew Norwood who is now representing former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk who is facing two five-year felony counts related to the 2020 August primary election.
Long-time local judge passes away at age 91; Funeral set for Monday for Judge Mosier
Defense attorney Matthew Norwood says Kathy Funk 'shocked' by ballot tampering charges
Defense attorney Matthew Norwood says Kathy Funk 'shocked' by ballot tampering charges
DAVISON (CCN) — Former long-time local Judge Charles Mosier passed away at age 91. Funeral services are set for Monday (March 14, 2022) with military honors at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church which is located at 404 North Dayton Street in Davison.
Judge Mosier served 22 years at the Burton court house as a Genesee County 67th Distr
DAVISON (CCN) — Former long-time local Judge Charles Mosier passed away at age 91. Funeral services are set for Monday (March 14, 2022) with military honors at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church which is located at 404 North Dayton Street in Davison.
Judge Mosier served 22 years at the Burton court house as a Genesee County 67th District Court judge. He retired in 1991.
Rev. Fr. Andrew A. Czajkowski will lead a Mass at St. John Catholic Cemetery after the service. The family will receive visitors from noon until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church or a charity of one's choice, in memory of Judge Mosier.
He was born in Ypsilanti on August 9, 1930, son of the late Dr. Edward C. and Mae (Hughes) Mosier, M.D. He was a graduate of Otisville High School's Class of 1947. After graduation, he married Dolores M. Lancto on June 13, 1953 in Flint.
Judge Mosier served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953 until 1955. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Park College in Kansas City, Missouri. He then earned a Juris Doctorate Degree in Law from the University of Detroit in 1957.
He practiced law in the Flint area until he was appointed as a judge in 1970. Judge Mosier was prominent in many professional, state and university activities. He was also a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Dolores Mosier; two sons (Matthew C. Mosier and Mark E. Mosier), daughter-in-law Paula Mosier, nine grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, sisters Suzanne (Fred) Wolff, Shari (Bill) Polli and Dr. Claudia (J) Mosier and many other loving family members and dear friends
Judge Mosier was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Edward and Mae Mosier. The family would like to extend a very sincere thank you to Geri Pasheek and the nurses and staff of McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint for their professional and compassionate care.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is former long-time Genesee County 67th District Court Judge Charles Mosier.
Flint's 12th murder of 2022 at Club Sunoco on corner of Ballenger and Flushing Road
Defense attorney Matthew Norwood says Kathy Funk 'shocked' by ballot tampering charges
Flint's 12th murder of 2022 at Club Sunoco on corner of Ballenger and Flushing Road
FLINT (CCN) —More violence erupted at 1 am last night at the troubled Club Sunoco convenience store and gas station in the City of Flint. It was the site of the 12th murder so far in the city for 2022.
City officials were considering closing down the store when it attracted many large crowds of people hanging out there in the summer of 2
FLINT (CCN) —More violence erupted at 1 am last night at the troubled Club Sunoco convenience store and gas station in the City of Flint. It was the site of the 12th murder so far in the city for 2022.
City officials were considering closing down the store when it attracted many large crowds of people hanging out there in the summer of 2021 when several acts of violence occurred. Tonya Burns led talks between neighbors and Club Sunoco's owner to crack down on problems at the corner of Flushing Road and Ballenger Hwy. The situation helped elevate Burns to status as a community leader when she was running for election to the Flint City Council. She won the primary last August and then won the general election in November.
Councilwoman Burns was the first to report the incident with a photo of the crime scene on her Facebook page shortly after the 1 am shooting. Her post said: "The senseless shootings have got to STOP…..City Council ended at 3:00am……on my way home and needed some gas….Prayers for the victim and PEACE in Flint."
MLive reported that Flint police said the victim was a 42-year-old man. The victim was shot inside his vehicle in Club Sunoco's parking lot.
One person believed to be the shooter was found near the scene and taken into custody, according to MLive. Both Flint Police Department and State Police were on the early morning scene and MLive said the investigation was led by the Flint Major Case Unit.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is a crime scene photo of the fatal early morning shooting at Flint's Club Sunoco that was posted to Facebook by Flint City Councilwoman Tonya Burns on her way home from a city council meeting.
John Gleason finally becomes shy around microphones as troubles continue to mount
Metro Flint News/Talk Radio to broadcast state finals in MHSAA Basketball Tournament
John Gleason finally becomes shy around microphones as troubles continue to mount
It's been a running joke over the years on The Morning Gazette Radio Show that John Gleason has never met a microphone he doesn't like.
He's now officially in hiding from all microphones, however, as everybody in the statewide media wants to ask him about his newly-hired Supervisor of Elections. She was arraigned yesterday on two five-year
It's been a running joke over the years on The Morning Gazette Radio Show that John Gleason has never met a microphone he doesn't like.
He's now officially in hiding from all microphones, however, as everybody in the statewide media wants to ask him about his newly-hired Supervisor of Elections. She was arraigned yesterday on two five-year felony counts for tampering with ballots and misconduct in office. (See related story above)
MLive reported how a reporter didn't get phone calls, texts or e-mails returned by Gleason, then they showed up at his office and he wasn't there.
Not a big surprise to me. With gas at $4.29 per gallon and rising, I skipped a trip to his office to check on his mood about Kathy Funk being accused of essentially "fixing" the August 2020 primary election as the former Flint Township Clerk. Many of Gleason's employees tell me he never shows up there. They say many, many bad things about the behavior toward employees by Gleason who is a former county commissioner and a former state legislator who has noe been the Genesee County Clerk / Register of Deeds since 2012.
I rose one day a few months ago to tell the county commissioners about the tales his employees have told me. The board subsequently voted 9-0 to investigate the culture in Gleason's office after Shawn Shumaker of Fenton Township a few weeks later shared with his peers on the board how he had heard similar tales from the same county employees. Gleason told other media how "everybody is happy."
Maybe he should show up to work one day and take a little poll about that fantasy.
Shumaker and fellow Republican Meredith Davis of Flushing are on the committee charged with investigating the culture at his office and reporting back to the board with their chairman — first-term Democrat Dominque Clemons.
Clemons formerly served in Gleason's office in Lansing. Since he worked for the guy when UAW Executive Director Steve Dawes claims Gleason's own party in Lansing "stripped him of the ability to hire, fire and supervise" his office staff — well, maybe he can sympathize with them if all the allegations are true about how Gleason treats them.
I'd like to know if Gleason denies what UAW leader Dawes says happened in Lansing. I have lots of question for him, but the Irishman is apparently afraid to appear on my radio show any more and he won't take my phone calls, answer my texts or respond to e-mails.
Blame Davison Mayor Tim Bishop. He's not afraid of Gleason's so-called political power any more than Yours Truly. He went on my radio show and said so. Give him the Purple Heart for being the very first to survive political combat with Gleason.
Mayor Bishop opened the flood gates for others. Expect many to line up tomorrow morning at 9 am to take turns at the podium telling the county commissioners they've had enough of John Gleason's act in Genesee County's political arena.
Gleason told everybody in a Davison community chat room on Facebook that Davison Township board members were essentially shrugging their responsibility by wasting tax dollars on an election. They were deadlocked 2-to-2 on appointing a new clerk after the old one resigned. Davison's Mayor came to the defense of his neighboring township officials and told Gleason off on the public forum. He then doubled down on my radio show by demanding that Gleason "maybe show up once in a while to learn how to run his own office and quit poking his nose in Davison's business because we have the best run communities in Genesee County."
Our headline in The Daily Gazette read: "Davison Mayor calls County Clerk Gleason a$$hole."
Mayor Bishop then criticized just about everything about Gleason on my radio show, including sharing a story about how he made multiple attempts to fix a campaign finance document without getting a chance to talk to anybody or receive any return call. Gleason then mailed out a hefty fine because Bishop went a few dollars over the $1,000 spending limit. His original paperwork had indicated he did not intend to spend over the $1,000 threshold that's required to fill out campaign finance reports.
"I could have fudged it but I wanted to do the right then and I kept bugging Gleason to tell me what I needed to do," Bishop told my radio show listeners. "Instead of helping me fix the paperwork, he mails me out a big fine!"
The next day is where the real fun began. Gleason's reaction? He held a press conference to announce how Prosecutor David Leyton was "not doing his job" because he needs to arrest "scofflaws" like Tim Bishop who owe campaign fines. All the media except us showed up, yet ignored the big-time news.
We were not there because Gleason decided not to send out any more press releases to The Daily Gazette or The Morning Gazette Radio Show. We're no longer invited to his press conferences.
You know the ones? Like Gleason dressing up last year in a Mickey Mouse costume to protest Commissioners spending money on a conference at Disney World in Florida. Or the most recent one when dressing up like Lady Liberty to yell and scream about how bad Dominque Clemons is for voting to investigate the culture at Gleason's office. Gleason's act has clearly ran its course. To suggest everybody is tired of it is a huge understatement.
"You have let him on your show so many times calling just about everybody in government a crook all around the county," said one critic of my generosity in allowing air time for Gleason so often in the past His favorite targets have been county commissioners, former long-time Sheriff Bob Pickelll, Prosecutor Leyton, Treasurer Deb Cherry, UAW officials, judges, members of congress and others who serve in our state legislature.
Gleason talks and talks and talks about public corruption to anyone who will listen.
Many have called to complain to me how they have made public comments at a meeting of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, then fielded phone calls from Gleason trying to "plant" untrue things to say about his political enemies.
Who are his enemies? Anybody who crosses him in the world of Genesee County politics.
Let's face it. John Gleason has cultivated an image as a powerful former Senator who has many politicians afraid of him. He has never lost a personal election. Whoever he backs in other elections around the county usually wins.
Gleason survived re-election time in 2020 despite a tape recording where a homophobic slur was used about now Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel who is gay.
It was comical to me now he apologized and attempted to suggest he was "actually talking about another Dana" he was trying to set up a phone call with when leaving a message for a community activist — one who was working on the Nessel for AG campaign.
Gleason is a master politician who went into hiding and got away with it. It was a blunder I'd bet nobody else around our little corner of the world could survive. Gleason also showed up in the same community activist's driveway during the dead worst of COVID in a lockdown aiming at keeping everybody in Michigan inside their homes by orders of the governor.
Never mind that I've listened to Gleason remind me so many times how dumb Gretchen Whitmer was when he sat next to her in the State Senate. Maybe he assumed it was off the record because we were friends. You know what they say about risking to "assume" something.
My wife demanded any friendship be terminated when Gleason called me to "have his back" on a "stupid mistake" in trusting the former leader of a white supremacist group. He told me about the homophobic slur being on tape.
But a county-wide elected official just thumbing his nose at the governor's orders? I was shocked when the community activist he was visiting asked me to hold on the line to hear it all as Gleason went to work on stopping the tape of his words ever being heard by his public with an awful homophobic slur. Gleason brought an old union thug with him and demanded the tape. We reported it on my radio show and allowed the community activist to tell all about the incident.
Gleason was never charged with anything, not even for clearing violating the governor's law about staying inside the slow the spread of COIVD.
We also once reported that as a State Senator, Gleason was once given a ticket for speeding in Clayton Township. The police chief there (Chuck Melki) told my radio show audience that Gleason essentially told everybody involved how important he was and wanted the ticket torn up. Court records show Gleason paid the ticket.
He spent an entire weekend begging me not to fo forward with airing the allegations from a respected former chief who became Gaines Township Supervisor.
All kinds of irregularities in a recall election against Mellki never became a crime despite my staff's hours of investigation into all kinds of law-breaking incidents. The recall stood. Guess maybe the old chief should have torn up that ticket many yeas ago.
Kinda the way he figured five fellow
OHL expels Flint Firebirds President of Hockey Operations for
Metro Flint News/Talk Radio to broadcast state finals in MHSAA Basketball Tournament
John Gleason finally becomes shy around microphones as troubles continue to mount
FLINT (CCN) — A top official of the Flint Firebirds organization has essentially been kicked out of the Ontario Hockey League.
Terry Christensen, who was hired as President of Hockey Operations before this season began, was "expelled from the League for conduct that is prejudicial to the welfare of the league."
Commissioner David Branch m
FLINT (CCN) — A top official of the Flint Firebirds organization has essentially been kicked out of the Ontario Hockey League.
Terry Christensen, who was hired as President of Hockey Operations before this season began, was "expelled from the League for conduct that is prejudicial to the welfare of the league."
Commissioner David Branch made the announcement, saying in a written statement: "This comes as a result of remarks he made that violated the OHL Harassment & Abuse / Diversity Policy. His conduct violated the league’s expectation of the appropriate conduct of a representative of an OHL team and he has lost the privilege to participate in the league."
Christensen worked for the Firebirds when they initially moved to Flint from Plymouth seven years ago. He was replaced after the first season when the OHL took control of the franchise after banning owner Rolf Nilsen for five years and fining him $250,000 when twice firing his first coach over a dispute over playing time for his son.
Nilsen brought back Christensen when regaining control of the franchise from the OHL before the season started.
The Firebirds are currently in first place in the OHL's West Division under Christensen's leadership as the top front office executive over hockey decisions.
Commissioner Branch's statement added: "The investigation into Mr. Christensen began after an allegation was brought forward via the OHL player communications system. "
The OHL’s current diversity policy says the league "cares about diversity within its environment."
The diversity policy says as follows: "The OHL values all of its players, staff, and officials and is committed to providing a place where all players and personnel are treated with respect. Not only does this mean that the league strives for an environment that is free from unequal treatment on the basis of race, age, gender, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status or disability — it also means that we strive for an environment where we value and benefit from the distinctiveness of each other."
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Flint FIrebirds President of Hockey Operations Terry Christensen who has been "expelled" from the OHL.
Metro Flint News/Talk Radio to broadcast state finals in MHSAA Basketball Tournament
Metro Flint News/Talk Radio to broadcast state finals in MHSAA Basketball Tournament
Metro Flint News/Talk Radio to broadcast state finals in MHSAA Basketball Tournament
(CCN) — Metro Flint News/Talk Radio is in the mood for some basketball March Madness with the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
The 24/ internet radio station will be broadcasting all four of the semifinal games and the state championship games in every class for both the girls' and boys' basketball tournaments.
The girls' action
(CCN) — Metro Flint News/Talk Radio is in the mood for some basketball March Madness with the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
The 24/ internet radio station will be broadcasting all four of the semifinal games and the state championship games in every class for both the girls' and boys' basketball tournaments.
The girls' action is scheduled for March 17-19 at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University while the boys' Final Four will be staged March 24-26 at MSU's Breslin Center.
Flint Beecher in Division 3 and Grand Blanc in Division 1 are defending champions on the boys' side while tiny Genesee Christian is a contender in Division 4. Beecher's Bucs are aiming to be in one of the Final Four games to air at about 11:50 am and 1:50 pm on Thursday, March 24. Genesee Christian has its eye focused on playing the same day at either $;20 pm or 7:20 pm. Grand Blanc is aiming to play on Friday, March 25 at either 11:50 am or 1:50 pm.
Grand Blanc, which won its first state title in school history last season under Coach Mike Thomas who previously won two state titles at Kalamazoo Central before moving on to coach as an assistant at the college level, faces Oxford on Friday night (March 11, 2022) in the district tournament at Davison. Oxford beat Davison 46-45 to earn a shot at Grand Blanc. The Bobcats are now 16-5 against one of the toughest schedules in the state and went undefeated to win the Saginaw Valley League championship. Oxford is only 10-12 on the season.
Flint Beecher faces Reese on Friday night (March 11, 2022) in the district tournament at Flint New Standard Academy. The Bucs are 18-2 overall and won the Genesee Area Conference's Red Division title with an undefeated record. The Bucs have held down the No. 1 ranking most of the season with their only losses coming to highly regarded Division 1 rivals Detroit King and Grand Blanc.
Genesee Christian is 17-4 overall and was runner-up in the GAC Red behind Beecher. The Soldiers lost twice to Beecher. The other losses were to bigger schools — the Flint Hamady Hawks and the Flint Jaguars.
Others still alive on the boys' side from The Daily Gazette coverage area going into district title match-ups include Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Clarkston and Hartland in Division 1, Lake Fenton, Goodrich, Frankenmuth and Flint Hamady in Division 2 and Burton Bendle and International Academy of Flint in Division 3.
The C-A Cavaliers face Saginaw Arthur Hill in Friday's (March 11, 2022) championship game at Flint Carman-Ainsworth's gym. Host C-A is 15-5 on the year while Arthur HIll is 12-8. Hartland is 17-4 and takes on Howell at the Fenton High School district bracket. Howell 14-7.
Lake Fenton and Goodrich meet in the district finals at Lake Fenton High School. Goodrich won the Metro League's Stars Division with a 9-1 record while Lake Fenton was runner-up with an 8-2 mark. Goodrich, which is now 17-4 overall, beat Lake Fenton 73-49 in January at Goodrich but lost 58-52 in late February at Lake Fenton which takes a 15-6 record into the district championship game.
Flint Hamady is in the Corunna district and plays Chesaning for the championship. The Hawk are 13-6 on the season while Chesaning is 17-5.
Frankenmuth, runner-up this season behind Freeland in the Tri-Valley 8, takes on Saginaw High and the Bridgeport district. Frankenmuth is 15-6 while Saginaw High is 15-6 overall and finished as the Valley runner-up behind Grand Blanc.
Bendle is set to play for a district championship at its own gym against International Academy of Flint. Bendle is 13-8 while the visitor is 8-10.
Clarkston has a tough test in its district at Waterford Mott. The host Corsairs were champions of the Lakes Valley Conference and take a 16-4 overall record into the title tilt against the Wolves who are 12-9 on the year.
March Madness started a week earlier for the state's girls' ballclubs.
Three girls' teams from The Daily Gazette coverage area made it to last week's regional finals, but only one moved on to the quarterfinals. Metro League Stars Division champion Lake Fenton lost a 61-51 decision to Marysville in Division 1 to finish 20-4 on the season overall. Genesee lost 62-31 to Madison Heights Bishop Foley to finish with a 17-7 overall mark. It was a school record for the Wolves in victories for a season.
Tiny Genesee Christian won the first girls' regional crown in school history Thursday night (March 0, 2022) at Waterford Mott. The Lady Soldiers won 46-34 over Clarkston Everest Collegiate.
They now advance to the state quarterfinals at Lake Shore Fieldhouse in St. Clair Shores. The 17-4 Genesee Christian girls who were undefeated to win the Genesee Area Conference Blue Division championship this season must beat Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue Division champion Plymouth Christian Academy to punch their ticket to the Breslin Center for the Division 4 state semifinals.
Both Genesee Christian and Plymouth Christian Academy match 20-4 records on Tuesday night.
The Final Four games in Division 4 girls' play will be at 4:20 pm and 7:30 pm next week on Thursday (March 15, 2022) at MSU's Breslin Center.
The Division 3 semifinals for girls will be on the morning of Thursday's (March 15, 2022) card. The games are set for 11:50 am and 1:50 pm.
The Division 1 and Division 2 semifinal games are set for the next day. The games in Division 1 will be 11:50 am and 1:50 pm while the games in Division 2 will be 4:20 pm and 7.30 pm.
The championship games in girls' action are set for Saturday (March 16, 2022). The Division 4 title game is set for 9:50 am, Division 1 is scheduled for 12:05 pm, Division 3 at 3:50 pm and Division 2 at 6:05 pm.
Probable cause hearings set in alleged Linden rape case against Flint cop, former Deputy
Probable cause hearings set in alleged Linden rape case against Flint cop, former Deputy
Probable cause hearings set in alleged Linden rape case against Flint cop, former Deputy
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
LINDEN (CCN) — Two defendants in the alleged Linden rape case will face a probable cause hearing on March 17 in front of Genesee County 67th District Court Judge William Crawford.
Defense attorney Jodi Lyn Hemingway has been hired by suspended Flint police officer Caleb Tierney and by former Genesee
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
LINDEN (CCN) — Two defendants in the alleged Linden rape case will face a probable cause hearing on March 17 in front of Genesee County 67th District Court Judge William Crawford.
Defense attorney Jodi Lyn Hemingway has been hired by suspended Flint police officer Caleb Tierney and by former Genesee County Sheriff's Department corrections deputy Cameron Zayler.
They face up to life in prison on first degree criminal sexual conduct charges.
Hemingway has won recent high profile cases where her clients faced up to life in prison, if convicted.
She defended Tarree Buford when a 2019 jury found the Flint man not guilty of assault with intent to murder after Buford stabbed his friend of 35 years during an argument. She successfully convinced the Flint jury that Buford acted in self defense. Hemingway's client in a 2015 Flint party store shooting was able to get all charged dropped after claiming Michigan State Police didn't turn over all the evidence in a case where Yarnell Jackson was accused of shooting Prince Party Store owner Joseph Assaf with co-defendant
Rovon Sanders.
Tierney and Zayler were released on $50,000 cash or surety bonds by Judge Crawford last month after they were arrested by Linden police and charged by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton's office. Leyton held a press conference on Feb. 17 with Linden Police Chief Scott Sutter to announce the charges.
Tierney was suspended by Flint Police Chief Terrance Greene after he was arrested. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said Zayler had only worked six weeks for his department and said he had not been employed there since mid-December. The incident took place on Dec. 3.
Chief Sutter said he notified both departments about the allegations that were made on the day after the alleged incident.
Prosecutor Leyton said he went forward with the rape charges because he said the two alleged victims were "too drunk to consent" to have sex. Leyton said one victim was 19 and one was 21. Tierney is 25 and Zayler is 24.
While Tierney faces one first degree criminal sexual assault count, Leyton charged Zayler with two counts.
The story was first reported by The Daily Gazette.
Prosecutor Leyton said lab tests have not yet come back on the possibility of a date rape drug being used on the victims.
She claims he used a date rape drug to assault her while he claims they had consensual sex.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is defense attorney Jodi Lyn Hemingway.
Date rape allegation on Flint police officer involves co-defendant who worked for Sheriff
Probable cause hearings set in alleged Linden rape case against Flint cop, former Deputy
Probable cause hearings set in alleged Linden rape case against Flint cop, former Deputy
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
LINDEN (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has confirmed that there is a co-defendant in a rape allegation reported today (Feb. 16, 2022) about two hours ago at 3 pm against a Flint police officer.
The Daily Gazette had learned from multiple reliable sources that an incident took place in Linden between the
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
LINDEN (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has confirmed that there is a co-defendant in a rape allegation reported today (Feb. 16, 2022) about two hours ago at 3 pm against a Flint police officer.
The Daily Gazette had learned from multiple reliable sources that an incident took place in Linden between the Flint officer and a woman. She claims he used a date rape drug to assault her while he claims they had consensual sex.
The incident was while the Flint officer was off duty and it also involved a second man who formerly worked for the Genesee County Sheriff's Department. The Daily Gazette has now confirmed that the Flint officer lives in Linden.
The Linden Police Department requested a warrant from the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office and the warrant was issued today, according to multiple sources.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said via text that he is aware of the situation, but added that he "didn't know any details about the case since I didn't investigate nor did it involve us." Sheriff Swanson said: "He did work for us and was fired last December. If I recall, he only had six weeks or so on the job when he was released."
Anyone convicted of using a date rape drug in Michigan faces up to 20 years in prison. A press release from Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley's administration said his city's police officer was "immediately relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave without pay" after Prosecutor Leyton issued the warrant.
Flint police officer fired today after accused of date rape scandal in Linden
Probable cause hearings set in alleged Linden rape case against Flint cop, former Deputy
Flint police officer fired today after accused of date rape scandal in Linden
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
LINDEN (CCN) — A 26-year-old Flint police officer has been been relieved of his duties after the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office issued a warrant for his arrest today (Feb. 16, 2022). His name is being withheld until an official arraignment by Prosecutor David Leyton.
The Daily Gazette has learn
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
LINDEN (CCN) — A 26-year-old Flint police officer has been been relieved of his duties after the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office issued a warrant for his arrest today (Feb. 16, 2022). His name is being withheld until an official arraignment by Prosecutor David Leyton.
The Daily Gazette has learned from multiple reliable sources that an incident took place in Linden between the officer and a woman. She claims he used a date rape drug to assault her while he claims they had consensual sex.
If convicted of using a date rape drug in Michigan, you could face up to 20 years in prison. A press release from Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley's administration said the police officer was "immediately relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave without pay" after Prosecutor Leyton issued the warrant.
The press release said: "We fully support the ongoing investigation being conducted by Linden Police Department and will assist in any way that we can aid. We will continue to hold our officers to the highest standards, and nothing less will be accepted in this agency. This matter is an open / ongoing investigation. Due to that fact, we cannot comment on any potential criminal allegations until we are given all the facts at the conclusion of any possible court proceedings. Internally, as a matter of policy we do not comment on personnel issues. However, an internal investigation is being conducted by our Internal Affairs Division (at the Flint Police Department)."
Powerful long-time Flint political figure Woodrow Stanley passes away at age 71
Isaac Thomas becomes latest 4th District challenger to new county board chairman
Powerful long-time Flint political figure Woodrow Stanley passes away at age 71
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has learned that a powerful long-time Flint political figure has passed away. Woodrow Stanley passed away at age 71, according to multiple sources.
"Nobody knew about it but he was suffering from esophagus cancer," said one long-time friend.
Stanley's career began when e
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has learned that a powerful long-time Flint political figure has passed away. Woodrow Stanley passed away at age 71, according to multiple sources.
"Nobody knew about it but he was suffering from esophagus cancer," said one long-time friend.
Stanley's career began when elected to the Flint City Council. He was elected by his peers to serve as City Council President, later became mayor in the City of Flint and rebounded from being removed from office in a recall to become a member of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners and then a state legislator.
Stanley served on the Flint City Council from 1983 until 1991. He was initially appointed to fill a vacancy as the 2nd Ward Councilman, then won every re-election bid until challenging incumbent Mayor Matthew Collier in 1991. He unseated Collier and won re-election as mayor until voters removed him via a recall action in March of 2002.
Two years later, Stanley made a political comeback and won the 2nd District seat on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners. He won re-elected in 2005 and 2007, and was elected by his peers to serve as chairman of the board from 2008 until 2009 when stepping down after winning the 34th State Representative race.
Stanley won two more state rep races before forced to step down because of term limits.
His exit from political life came when losing a State Senate race to Jim Ananich eight years ago although he was visible during Dr. Karen Weaver's 2015 mayoral victory in Flint and was again a strong supporter of Weaver when she faced a 2017 recall election and when she lost her 2019 re-election bid to Sheldon Neeley.
Stanely's wife, Rita, is the long-time Executive Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Woodrow Stanley who has passed away.
Popular long-time Burton City Coucilwoman Tina Conley eyes run for County seat
Isaac Thomas becomes latest 4th District challenger to new county board chairman
Powerful long-time Flint political figure Woodrow Stanley passes away at age 71
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
BURTON (CCN) — Burton City Councilwoman Tina Conley revealed on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022) that she may challenge for a seat on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
Conley attended Wednesday's meeting of the Commissioners with an application in her hand.
She said she would run as a Democrat to ch
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
BURTON (CCN) — Burton City Councilwoman Tina Conley revealed on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022) that she may challenge for a seat on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
Conley attended Wednesday's meeting of the Commissioners with an application in her hand.
She said she would run as a Democrat to challenge incumbent Democrat Ellen Ellenburg.
Ellenburg was also a member of the Burton City Council before unseating former Board Chairman Jamie Curtis in the August 2016 primary.
Many in Burton have viewed Ellenburg or Conley as potential candidates for state representative since Tim Sneller can't seek re-election because of term limits.
Applications to get your name on the ballot for either of the positions in the August primary isn't until April.
Conley has been on the Burton City Council since 2016 when appointed to replace Ellenburg. She previously served nine years as a council member and also formerly worked in the administration for former Flint Mayor Don Williamson.
Conley also once ran for mayor in Burton but didn't win.
She has been known as a tenacious door-to-door campaigner for many successful candidates over the years, including in 2019 when her aid helped Duane Haskins beat Danny Wells in Burton's mayoral race.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Burton City Councilwoman Tina Conley.
Isaac Thomas becomes latest 4th District challenger to new county board chairman
Isaac Thomas becomes latest 4th District challenger to new county board chairman
Isaac Thomas becomes latest 4th District challenger to new county board chairman
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — Dominque Clemons has been Chairman of the Board for the Genesee County Commissioners for only six weeks, but he already has an army of challengers lining up against him when it's re-election time.
Clemons is a first-term Democrat who was elected in November 2020. He faces re-election in
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT (CCN) — Dominque Clemons has been Chairman of the Board for the Genesee County Commissioners for only six weeks, but he already has an army of challengers lining up against him when it's re-election time.
Clemons is a first-term Democrat who was elected in November 2020. He faces re-election in the August primary where two others have already lined up to challenge him. The Morning Gazette Radio Show reported late last year that John Daly and Don Wright have indicated they will run as Democrats.
Now, enter a Republican in the race. Isaac Thomas told Commissioners from the podium during public comment on Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2022) that he will be in the race, too. Thomas first appeared on the public scene last fall during a protest against the county's mask mandate for students that was led by new Genesee County Republican Party Chairman Matthew Smith.
Smith has not yet responded to a request for comment about Thomas who has joined speakers in previous meetings of the county commissioners to protest the mask mandate that has now expired. Dozens of speakers continue to complain about the mandates and recommendations by Genesee County Health Department Director Dr. Pamela Hackert. She imposed the mask mandate at the start of the school year and it didn't expire until mid-December.
Thomas was wearing a t-shirt that read "Arrest Fauci & Gates" when addressing the council during the two-minute public comment period. He said he will be filing paper work this week to challenge for the 4th District seat won by Clemons when Kym Courts opted not to seek re-election.
"I've said a lot of prayers over the last month and I believe it's time to use my voice , my experience and my testimony to advocate for the hard working residents of my district," Thomas said.
He said "incompetent government policies" are "affecting innocent lives" and said this will be the focus of his00 campaign.
"The people in our community are tired of everyday career politicians paying off themselves and their friends with our tax dollars but yet our districts are trashed," Thomas said. "The decisions made by our commissioners are very important and directly affect people in our community. I'm an everyday person, not a career politician. I know the struggle and believe me, it is real."
Among the questions Thomas said he poses for commissioners are as follows:
• "Why does our district have so much trash and blight?"
• "Why has crime in our community skyrocketed yet prosecutions have been put on pause?"
• "Why is every police department in my district under-staffed? "
• "Why does our commissioner board as a whole not provide explanations and resolutions to the concerns brought by the public at weekly meetings?"
• "But most of all, why do we keep waiting on the federal government to bail us out and save us when we can be more efficient and prosperous if we just work together as a community and spend our funding on the right things."
Thomas also said : "I have many more questions and i will continue to fight for answers on behalf of WE THE PEOPLE. We all have a powerful testimony to give and we all deserve a chance to be heard! Every single one of us are here right now for a reason and with a purpose. Please stand with me on bringing our community together and ending the division being pushed on the amazing citizens of our community and our country. "
Clemons has not said if he will run for re-election.
He works in Lansing for the Democrat Party's elected officials in the State House of Representatives.
Wright ran against Clemons in 2021. He lost by 476 votes (3,296-to-2,820). Wright was a long-time active political figure for millionaire businessman Don Williamson who died in 2020. Williamson won two terms as mayor of Flint and often backed candidates around the county. Wright also formerly served as a board of education member for the Carman school district before its merger with the Ainsworth school district.
Daly was director of the Genesee County Road Commissioner until parting ways in 2018 after an 18-year career there. He was paid $100,000 in a buy-out when leaving his position, then went to work in 2019 under the City of Flint administration for new Mayor Sheldon Neeley. Daly is also now a trustee for the Mott Community College's Board of Trustees.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Isaac Thomas who has announced that he will be running for the 4th District commissioner seat on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
Bullet-riddled vehicle on I-475 in Flint near Stewart stalls traffic; Victim unresponsive
No comment from AG on prosecutor assignment for State Police's Kathy Funk warrant request
Bullet-riddled vehicle on I-475 in Flint near Stewart stalls traffic; Victim unresponsive
FLINT (CCN) — A bullet-riddled vehicle led to police blocking off I-475 from Stewart to Hamilton Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2022). Multiple witnesses reported to The Morning Gazette Radio Show that a gunshot victim was unresponsive when taken from the vehicle and transported to the hospital via an ambulance.
Other media had initial reports that it
FLINT (CCN) — A bullet-riddled vehicle led to police blocking off I-475 from Stewart to Hamilton Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2022). Multiple witnesses reported to The Morning Gazette Radio Show that a gunshot victim was unresponsive when taken from the vehicle and transported to the hospital via an ambulance.
Other media had initial reports that it was an accident under investigation but multiple witnesses told The Morning Gazette Radio Show that a lone driver in the vehicle crashed after his vehicle was riddled with bullets. All of them say the victim was a male who appeared to be in his 20's or early 30's.
The City of Flint had a record 68 homicides in 2021 to break an all-time record. The city had come close to breaking the record in 2020 during Sheldon Neeley's first full year as mayor with 61 (the record was 62 during Dayne Walling's first full year as mayor in 2011). Flint had five homicides during the first four days of 2022.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is a bullet-riddled vehicle after a shooting incident was reported by witnesses on I-475 in Flint.
Committee for School Board Integrity turns in recall signatures on Matthew Smith
No comment from AG on prosecutor assignment for State Police's Kathy Funk warrant request
Bullet-riddled vehicle on I-475 in Flint near Stewart stalls traffic; Victim unresponsive
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
DAVISON (CCN) — The Committee for School Board Integrity turned in more than 4,100 signatures on Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2022) in hopes of removing a Davison school board member. They needed 3,689 signatures of registered voters to move their recall attempt to the ballot later this year in May or August f
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
DAVISON (CCN) — The Committee for School Board Integrity turned in more than 4,100 signatures on Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2022) in hopes of removing a Davison school board member. They needed 3,689 signatures of registered voters to move their recall attempt to the ballot later this year in May or August for the possible ouster of Davison Board of Education Trustee Matthew Smith. The recall group led by Jenessa Phillips turned in petitions containing more than 4,100 signatures obtained during a 60-day window.
Smith has been under fire for months after facing criminal charges for a 1 am phone call to a political friend's campaign opponent in Houghton County. Smith entered a guilty plea last week in Genesee County 67th District Court. (Click Here to Read Related Stories) Smith was sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) where convictions are wiped away after serving jail terms or completing terms of probation. Judge William Crawford, who could have given Smith up to six months in jail, ordered 12 months of probation, a fine of $650, 240 hours of community service and a 1,000-word essay about bullying people.
Smith pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for malicious use of a telecommunications device.
Members of the recall group were outraged that Smith immediately issued a statement on Facebook and to WNEM TV 5 that he was "not convicted" after the court proceedings. They also pointed out that Judge Crawford sided with the victim's version that Smith threatened to kill her dogs, saying his previous lies hurt his credibility.
Judge Crawford said he was surprised that Smith was not charged with a four-year felony for lying to police after initially saying he never called victim Jennifer Kelly. Smith has maintained that he never threatened to kill Kelly's dogs, saying he is owns a dog and loves pets.
Although HYTA requires a formal plea of guilty, courts don't enter a judgment of conviction in Michigan State Police records which are sealed as soon as the court assigns an individual to HYTA status. A conviction is not required to be disclosed on an application for employment or education when an individual is given HYTA status. HYTA status can be taken away, however, if an individual sentenced under its terms fails to comply with any conditions ordered by the court.
Members of the recall group held a press conference in front of the Genesee County Court House where the Clerk's office is located after turning in their petitions and issued the following statement: "We are so proud of this community who stood and declared with a unified voice that Davison values do not align with the trail of moral debris Matthew Smith has left in his wake over the last two years. We want to sincerely thank everyone who signed and especially those who helped gather signatures. We always believed that if this community wanted an election we would have one. Now we will."
Among those who signed a recall petition were former Davison Mayor Frederick Rappuhn and current Mayor Tim Bishop as well as a former state legislator from the Davison area — Democrat Sheryl Kennedy.
Rappuhn, who provided drive-up service at his downtown home to allow residents to sign petitions without leaving their vehicles, issued a Facebook post, saying, "We are so proud of this community who stood and declared with a unified voice that Davison values do not align with the trail of moral debris Matthew Smith has left in his wake over the last two years. We want to sincerely thank everyone who signed and especially those who helped gather signatures. We always believed that if this community wanted an election we would have one. Now we will.
The job is not done, however. We will not rest until we have changed the tone in our community back to one of civility and decency. Integrity begins on the day Matthew Smith is replaced on the Board of Education." Rappuhn served on the Davison City Council for 24 years as was mayor of his city for four years.
Local Republicans have stood behind Smith and Genesee County Republican Party leaders elected the then 23-year-old Smith as their Chairman while the criminal charges ere hanging over this head.
Smith has called the crusade against him a "political hit job by Democrats" because he is a young conservative willing to speak out on issues. He opposed Critical Race Theory for Davison's school district and led a protest in Flint over the county's top health department official enacting a mask mandate for Genesee County students to begin the school year. The mask mandate expired in late December after several large gatherings to voice complaints about it before county commissioners.
Genesee County Clerk John Gleason's office will now verify the signatures to determine if enough are valid to force an election. Smith said he was notified on Wednesday (Jan. 19, 2022) that he was contacted by Gleason's Supervisor of Elections (Kathy Funk) to notify him that she would be verifying the signatures. State Police asked last month for a warrant to arrest Funk for alleged ballot tampering in Flint Township during the August 2020 primary election.
Many of Smith's supporters questioned if Gleason can be fair. He did respond to a request for a comment from The Daily Gazette.
Gleason released a controversial press release during Smith's campaign for Davison's county commissioner seat won by Gary Peppin in a close election in 2020. Smith blamed Gleason's actions for losing that race, alleging that Gleason pushed for criminal charges to be filed and accused him of alerted the media to the case in an 11th hour act to ruin his campaign.
Gleason and fellow Democrat Patrick Miller of Davison Township held a press conference late last year to announce there was an investigation into a Davison Township man for allegedly signed a recall petition against Smith using a fake name. The pair said the man recorded himself doing it and his video was presented on his wife's Facebook page where he bragged of signing with a phony name to force the whole ballot to be tossed out. The man was the husband of Morgan Jackson who ran against Miller when Miller won by a landslide against the Smith-backed candidate in last November's special election for the Davison clerk job.
Miller said at Gleason's press conference: "What is precipitating all of this today is it was brought to my attention that my opponent in the special election has not only condemned fraud, but vocally participated in it. She knew that her husband signed a recall petition with a fictitious name and went so far as to go on Facebook and bragged about it.”
Jackson did not respond to a request for a comment from The Daily Gazette at the time.
Gleason told media members that he feels Michigan Secretary of State Jacelyn Benson and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel should take action in the case. He said: " I think if we could get a little more effort out of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to actually convict some of these marauders of our democracy, I think we would limit it. Pretty soon you have to say ‘enough' (and) there is just an insidious, and in this case apparent, assault on the democratic process. If you look what’s happened over the last few months, it’s been a concerted assault. It’s been organized and it’s been fairly concise... It’s already difficult to get the number of signatures needed to recall Matt Smith to begin with…it’s quite a difficult task, then to have them openly admitting to actually attacking the effort?”
Smith had agreed to appear on The Morning Gazette Radio Show on Tuesday if the group came up short on gathering sufficient signatures. He talked last week to WNEM TV 5 where he formerly worked as a freelance reporter for a short time a few years ago. Smith talked Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2022) to WJRT TV 12.
Smith again denied "being convicted" and said he "never made a threatening phone call to kill (Jennifer Kelly's) dog." He refuted the judge's comment about questioning why he wasn't charged for lying to police by contending that his police report to Davison authorities that "someone must have spoofed his phone" was because ne never admitted to threatening to kill a dog. "I just didn't do it," he said.
After Smith was featured on WJRT TV 12 with a reaction to the signature goal being met, the recall committee issued the following statement: "Matthew Smith has spoken, and as usual he makes no sense. The fact that you can have "Matthew Smith pled guilty (this means IN COURT, by the way) to a threatening phone call in the body of a news story and Matthew saying 'I never made any threats' in the same story is another mind-blowing example of the confusion he has created during his two year tap dance over the facts. Matthew Smith shows no remorse, and his lies and spin are insulting to the voters in this district and disrespectful to his victim, Jennifer Kelly. How can you apologize to a victim, while simultaneously saying she is lying about everything? Over 4,000 voters who signed the petition see this clearly. We can only hope his probation officer does as well. Bring on the election.
After Smith was featured on WJRT TV 12with a reaction to the signature goal being met, the recall committee issued the following statement: "Matthew Smith has spoken, and as usual he makes no sense. The fact that you can have "Matthew Smith pled guilty (this means IN COURT, by the way) to a threatening phone call in the body of a news story and Matthew saying 'I never made any threats' in the same story is another mind-blowing example of the confusion he has created during his two year tap dance over the facts. Matthew Smith shows no remorse, and his lies and spin are insulting to the voters in this district and disrespectful to his victim, Jennifer Kelly. How can you apologize to a victim, while simultaneously saying she is lying about everything? Over 4,000 voters who signed the petition see this clearly. We can only hope his probation officer does as well. Bring on the election.
No comment from AG on prosecutor assignment for State Police's Kathy Funk warrant request
No comment from AG on prosecutor assignment for State Police's Kathy Funk warrant request
No comment from AG on prosecutor assignment for State Police's Kathy Funk warrant request
(CCN) — Genesee County Chief Prosecutor John Potbury referred all questions to the State Attorney General's Office on what county prosecutor will be handling the warrant request by State Police on former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk. A.G. Dana Nessel's office has not yet responded to an e-mail request about the case.
Potbury's boss (Gen
(CCN) — Genesee County Chief Prosecutor John Potbury referred all questions to the State Attorney General's Office on what county prosecutor will be handling the warrant request by State Police on former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk. A.G. Dana Nessel's office has not yet responded to an e-mail request about the case.
Potbury's boss (Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton) recused his office because he said there was a conflict now that Funk is a county employee. Funk's attorney, Jack Beltzer, has not yet issued a comment about the case.
The warrant request first reported by The Daily Gazette and The Morning Gazette Radio Show came after a 17-month investigation into alleged vote tampering during the August 2020 primary. Funk was re-elected by a narrow margin over fellow Democrat Manya Triplett in the primary. (Click to See Related Stories Here)
Triplett was appointed to the Fenton Township Board of Trustees after Funk resigned late last year as Fenton Township Clerk to take a job as Supervisor of Elections for Genesee County Clerk John Gleason.
Gleason has not responded to a request for comment from The Daily Gazette although initially denying via text that she had been hired after Metro Flint News/Talk Radio reported how Funk said she had taken the job.
Gleason told View Newspapers that he had no hand in hiring Funk. He said it was done by the county's human resources department. Multiple county commissioners have said, however, that Gleason is in charge of all hiring for his office and claim they have no involvement.
Matthew Smith, a Davison Board of Education Trustee facing a recall, told The Daily Gazette today (Jan. 19, 2022) that Funk called him to say she was verifying signatures turned in by the group hoping to force a recall election. (See Related Story at left if reading on a laptop or PC, or scroll above to read it if you are reading on an mobile device)
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk.
Our Editor blasts racist slur by county official; His comments ignored by commissioners
Complaint about alleged election problems in 2020 Flint Twp race goes to Attorney General
Complaint about alleged election problems in 2020 Flint Twp race goes to Attorney General
(CCN) — Mike Killbreath has been known for a decade of often needing blood pressure pills while hosting a popular morning radio show that often targets politicians. Killbreath, who is also Executive Editor at The Daily Gazette in addition to hosting The Morning Gazette Radio Show, now vows to pressure the Genesee County Board of Commissio
(CCN) — Mike Killbreath has been known for a decade of often needing blood pressure pills while hosting a popular morning radio show that often targets politicians. Killbreath, who is also Executive Editor at The Daily Gazette in addition to hosting The Morning Gazette Radio Show, now vows to pressure the Genesee County Board of Commissioners into stopping funding for a local official's office.
Killbreath's blood was boiling today. He used his radio show forum and spoke during Wednesday's (Jan. 5, 2022) meeting of Commissioners to blast Genesee County Clerk / Register of Deeds John Gleason who has been accused of making a racial slur. (See Related Story in Today's Metro Section)
Killbreath has demanded that Gleason resign the count-wide position he was first elected to in 2012. Gleason is a former County Commissioner and he spent 10 years in Lansing as a state legislator. He resigned from the State Senate midway through his second term to take the Genesee County Clerk / Register of Deeds position after winning the 2012 election.
"Your Corporation Counsel, Mr. Leyton, can tell you what steps can be taken as far as a censure or any kind of disciplinary action, but what you do control is the funding for his office," Killbreath told Commissioners. "Take a stand against racism and stop all funding for his office until John Gleason resigns. I'm sure you will hear from his employees who want their paychecks and from citizens who need to use the Clerk's office or the Register of Deeds office... I've already received more than 100 texts, e-mails, messages on Messenger and phone calls in the last 24 hours from people in this community who have had enough of John Gleason. He needs to go away. I'm not alone in declaring that there's no place for racism in my community."
Killbreath told Commissioners that his county tax dollars should not be used to pay anyone who makes racial slurs. Metro Flint News/Talk Radio first reported yesterday in its 11:30 am CCN News Break that community activist Arthur Woodson made an allegation that Gleason used a racial slur against him while meeting with four white men. He provided names of the four who back up his story and also has a witness to his phone call to confront Gleason about it.
Woodson, a Flint community activist, also spoke at Wednesday's meeting, telling Commissioners: "Gleason used the N word about me... That tells you his true feelings."
Gleason was in the audience Wednesday after conducting the opening of the meeting when 4th District Commissioner Dominque Clemons was elected as the board's new chairman. He sat silent in the audience after remarks by Killbreath and two others who took subsequent shots at him during the public comment portion of the meeting. Gleason also ignored an opportunity to react to accusations about using the racial slur when The Daily Gazette reached out to him before publishing's yesterday's story. (See Related Story in Today's Metro Section)
Part of Woodson's Facebook Live rant about Gleason was aired earlier today on The Morning Gazette Radio Show. He he repeated his reasons about coming forward to Commissioners, saying he initially accepted Gleason's apology about using the racial slur but erupted with anger when hearing Gleason talk about his past support for minorities while making remarks at Tuesday's (Jan. 4, 2022) meeting of the Genesee County Road Commissioners. Gleason was there to swear in the new chairman (Timothy Elkins of Davison Township) and Woodson said he "went on and on about all he has done for minorities, including appointing the first black woman ever to the Road Commission." Woodson said Gleason "used his public support for blacks" to win elections, but added: "I know his true feelings."
Audio of Woodson's remarks to Commissioners and Killbreath's speech to them will be aired on Thursday's Morning Gazette Radio Show. You can listen live by Clicking Here.
The racial slur story came just one day after last week's blockbuster story by The Daily Gazette about a warrant request being confirmed by State Police for fixing an election in Flint Township against Gleason's newly-hired Supervisor of Elections — Kathy Funk.
Gleason has not yet responded to a request for comment on Woodson's accusation of using the N word or about State Police asking for a warrant to arrest his newest employee hired to oversee elections throughout the county.
Gleason is already facing potential felony charges for an incident last year. He was accused of pressuring office personnel to illegally backdate a marriage license for a ceremony he performed in Shiawassee County. A warrant request was made after an investigation by Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, who has had an on-going political feud with Gleason, recused his office from considering it, and the State Attorney General assigned the case to Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene.
Reene has not responded to multiple requests by The Daily Gazette and The Morning Gazette Radio Show to comment on when his office may issue a decision on the fate of Gleason.
The alleged racial slur by Gleason first surfaced in 2020 during an interview with Ryan LoRee on The Morning Gazette Radio Show. LoRee accused Gleason of showing up at his house with a "union thug" during the height of the COVID shutdown to try to pressure LoRee not to go public with accusations about Gleason using the "N" word during a meeting with LoRee and others. LoRee also had a tape recording of a phone call where Gleason used a homophobic slur against Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Gleason apologized for his comment about Nessel, but denied at the time making a racial slur that Woodson now alleges that the former state senator admitted and apologized for to him.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is embattled Genesee County Clerk / Register of Deeds John Gleason.
Complaint about alleged election problems in 2020 Flint Twp race goes to Attorney General
Complaint about alleged election problems in 2020 Flint Twp race goes to Attorney General
Complaint about alleged election problems in 2020 Flint Twp race goes to Attorney General
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT TWP. (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has obtained a letter by a public official about alleged election irregularities in Flint Township's 2020 primary ran by its former Clerk — Kathy Funk.
The letter was sent to the State Election Bureau and to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. It's dated as Dec.
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
FLINT TWP. (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has obtained a letter by a public official about alleged election irregularities in Flint Township's 2020 primary ran by its former Clerk — Kathy Funk.
The letter was sent to the State Election Bureau and to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. It's dated as Dec. 30, 2021 which is the same day as a story was published by The Daily Gazette quoting multiple anonymous sources about the State Police requesting a warrant to arrest Funk for allegedly tampering with ballots in the 2020 primary. Funk ran the election when she defeated challenger Manya Triplett by a slim margin to win re-election. (See Related Story in Today's Metro Section)
Triplett was subsequently appointed to replace Funk by the Fenton Township Board of Trustees after Funk stepped down to become the new Supervisor of Elections for Genesee County Clerk John Gleason.
The author of the letter asked to remain anonymous, writing in an e-mail to The Morning Gazette Radio Show: "I am forwarding this to you but I am requesting that my name and e-mail address remain anonymous for now. It may come out later if they charge anyone. It might go to trial and I would probably be called. But I would like to lay low for now." A telephone conversation to arrange an appearance on The Morning Gazette Radio Show was declined by the author who said the "motivation" for writing was the Thursday Dec. 30, 2021 story by The Daily Gazette about the warrant request by State Police.
The letter outlined several alleged inappropriate actions by Funk and detailed other concerns as part of a formal complaint. The letter was directed to the State Election Bureau and State Attorney General's office. It is presented below:
"To whom it may concern at (your office):
The purpose of my letter is to file a formal complaint and request (your office) to investigate the irregularities that occurred in the Flint Township August 2020 Primary. The reason for the delay is due to the investigation conducted by the Michigan State Police, District 3, Flint Township Command Post. They had difficulty contacting the Clerk, Kathy Funk, who originally filed the report.
I was told by MSP that (your office) was made aware of this investigation. The Clerk filed a complaint stating she thought someone broke into the room where the ballots were being stored the weekend after the August 2020 Primary. She claims that the security seal on one bag of absentee ballots was damaged and deemed the ballots invalid to be used in a potential recount of the Clerk’s race in the August 2020 Primary.
Coincidentally, the Clerk was made aware of a potential recount request a few days earlier by the Township Attorney. I am including the case number, # 35-4891-20, from the MSP investigation. It has been forwarded to the Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. We are waiting to hear what action they will take, if any. I want to bring a few other irregularities to your attention.
1. There was a lack of communication between the Flint Township Clerk and the Township Election Commission. The Clerk did not get approval for all hired election workers, their wages, or the location of the absentee ballot counting boards, after being asked several times to provide this information in writing to the Election Commission.
2. The Election Commission public meeting was conducted in the Clerk’s office at her computer. An electronic meeting notice was not posted on the Township website according to the amended OMA or Township policy, only a physical copy of the agenda was placed on the public notice board outside the building, nor was it listed where regular meetings are usually posted on our website. One member of our Election Commission attended the meeting by phone, the other in person. The public was not able to attend as the clerk held the meeting in her office.
3. The day before the August 2020 Primary, the Clerk decided to move and set up the location of the counting boards from the Township Offices to Randall Elementary School without the approval or knowledge of the Election Commission. Up until that afternoon, when asked about the counting board location, her response was she didn’t know what was going to happen. Yet, this had to be planned in advance for authorization to use the facility, though the Clerk did not go through the normal channels to reserve the room. The person who usually reserves school facilities/rooms for outside use called the Township Offices on the day of the primary, confused and asking questions.
4. The Clerk was asked by an Election Commissioner how all the absentee ballots were transported from the Township to the school. The Clerk stated that (name omitted), a township employee who normally assists on elections, transported them. The Commissioner questioned this person to confirm but he stated he didn’t transport them.
5. During the summer leading up to the Primary Election, the Clerk moved the storage location of the returned absentee ballots to her office from the election clerical office. They used to be stored in locked metal, expandable bins, but instead were stored on open shelves, unsecured. The Clerk and her husband had complete access to returned absentee ballots at any point in time. They spent hours in her office with the doors locked, windows covered, after work hours, in the evenings and weekends, even late Sunday evenings when no one was around. There were even signs hung on the doors denying access to unauthorized people, yet her husband had continued access to her office where returned ballots were stored.
6. There is a question as to whether or not the new Election Commission was ever sworn in.
7. The Clerk’s opponent in the August 2020 primary filed a FOIA request and was denied to review the spoiled absentee ballots with no reason given, even before this incident occurred. A call was made to the State Election Bureau’s Office and she was told she could review these ballots but not touch or handle them. The Clerk did not allow them to be reviewed.
8. The Clerk continues to accuse a Flint Township Detective and a Trustee, serving as Deputy Supervisor, of being under investigation showing people a picture she acquired from video surveillance tapes. The Detective and Trustee were assisting MSP to preserve the recorded tapes, but the Clerk continues to tell people that they were under investigation for breaking in, which is not the case, only a deflection of the actual incident, please see the report from MSP.
9. Irregularities started with this Clerk when she first ran for office in 2016, when she used her parent's address to establish residency in Flint Township. She lived with her husband, Douglas Funk, and their son for several years in Flushing. She changed her address on her driver's license a few months before she filed to run for office in Flint Township. She won and served as Flint Township Clerk beginning November 20, 2016, while they had a PRE (Primary Residential Exemption) on the marital home she shared with her husband in the City of Flushing during the period of November 2016 through May 2018. The City of Flushing assessing documents establish her Flushing home as her primary residence, making her ineligible to be Clerk in Flint Township. At some point, these issues need to be addressed instead of being swept under the rug. Please look into this complaint and help correct the irregularities.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
XXXXX (Name Withheld by request) XXXXXX
As an update, Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk, resigned effective November 22, 2021. She is now employed by Genesee County as the Election Coordinator in the County Clerk’s Office.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton recused his office on Monday (Jan. 3, 2022) from considering the warrant request by State Police to arrest Funk for ballot tampering. She could face up to four years in prison, if convicted. The case will now be assigned to another County Prosecutor by Attorney General Nessel.
Defense attorney Jack Beltzer confirmed that he is representing Funk but chose not to comment on the case at this time.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel who received a formal complaint about former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk.
County Commissioners elect Dominque Clemons as new board chairman
Complaint about alleged election problems in 2020 Flint Twp race goes to Attorney General
County Commissioners elect Dominque Clemons as new board chairman
FLINT (CCN) — First-term Democrat Dominque Clemons has been elected as Chairman of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
He was elected by his peers in a 5-to-2 vote on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022). Republicans Shaun Shumaker of Fenton and Meredith Davis of Flushing were the two Commissioners who opposed him. They voted for Shumaker. Five
FLINT (CCN) — First-term Democrat Dominque Clemons has been elected as Chairman of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
He was elected by his peers in a 5-to-2 vote on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022). Republicans Shaun Shumaker of Fenton and Meredith Davis of Flushing were the two Commissioners who opposed him. They voted for Shumaker. Five Democrats, including Clemons, voted for Clemons. Democrat Debra Newman was not at the meeting.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is 4th District Commissioner Dominque Clemons who was elected on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022) as the new county board chairman.
Former State Senator Dave Robertson denies accusations of trying to get Smith to step down
Former State Senator Dave Robertson denies accusations of trying to get Smith to step down
Former State Senator Dave Robertson denies accusations of trying to get Smith to step down
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
GRAND BLANC (CCN) — Multiple reports about a long-time local leader in Republican circles has denied accusations that he has been trying to get Matthew Smith to step down as the Genesee County Republican Party chairman.
Smith confirmed that the party has a monthly meeting scheduled for 7 pm tonight.
Mul
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
GRAND BLANC (CCN) — Multiple reports about a long-time local leader in Republican circles has denied accusations that he has been trying to get Matthew Smith to step down as the Genesee County Republican Party chairman.
Smith confirmed that the party has a monthly meeting scheduled for 7 pm tonight.
Multiple sources say Robertson has asked them to help pressure Smith to step down "because his criminal case is bad for the party's reputation."
The Daily Gazette learned about the alleged ouster attempt after telephone calls from one board member who asked to remain anonymous, one former board member who said she talked with a board member, two others who say they would like to replace Smith as Chairman and business people who say former State Sentator Dave Robertson reached out to them for help.
Robertson, reached at his offices in Grand Blanc Township where he now serves as the Clerk, denied he has been involved in trying to get Smith ousted. "I know nothing about that," Robertson said. "I haven't spoken to anybody on that and I'm not on the county (party's) executive committee."
Smith confirmed that Robertson would have no vote on such an ouster attempt.
Robertson was elected to his current Grand Blanc Township post after serving as a State Senator from 2011 until 2019. He previously served as a member of the State House of Representatives and as a Genesee County Commissioner.
Smith is awaiting sentencing on Jan. 11 in Genesee County 67th District Court after pleading guilty to malicious use of telecommunication services. He faces up to six months in jail but agreed to plead guilty in exchange for being sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Offender Act for violent crimes by criminals under age 23. The Oakland County Prosecutor's office agreed not to challenge the sentence if Judge William Crawford gives Smith probation and can wipe the charge off Smith's record if he gets in no further trouble during the probation period. (Click Here to See Related Stories) Smith, now 24, was 23 at the time of the incident where he admitted making a 1 am phone call to Kelly after denying he did it for months.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is former State Senator Dave Robertson of Grand Blanc.
Victim in Matthew Smith case appears at press conference by recall group
Former State Senator Dave Robertson denies accusations of trying to get Smith to step down
Former State Senator Dave Robertson denies accusations of trying to get Smith to step down
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
DAVISON (CCN) — The victim in a high profile criminal case against the Chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party revealed on Thursday (Jan. 6, 2022) that she has written a letter to the judge who is expected to sentence Smith on Jan. 11 in Genesee County 67th District Court.
Jennifer Kelly said
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
DAVISON (CCN) — The victim in a high profile criminal case against the Chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party revealed on Thursday (Jan. 6, 2022) that she has written a letter to the judge who is expected to sentence Smith on Jan. 11 in Genesee County 67th District Court.
Jennifer Kelly said she didn't agree to Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Brandon Barlog giving Matthew Smith of Davison a plea deal unless he admitted threatening her dog. Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of malicious use of telecommunication services but told Judge William Crawford under oath that he "made an annoying telephone call at 1 am." (Click Here to See Related Stories)
Kelly made her statements during a press conference held via Zoom by the Committee for School Board Integrity. Multiple media members attended to hear her comments.
Kelly is the Houghton County Clerk and she said she wants Smith "held accountable" for what he did. "That's why I wrote a letter to the judge," she said. Kelly added that she will ask for the sentencing date to be re-scheduled because she wants to attend and may be unable to make it back to the upper peninsula on Jan. 11 for a 5:30 pm county board meeting.
Smith has called the case a "political hit job" by Democrats led by former State Senator John Gleason who is now Genesee County Clerk. Gleason and Kelly are Democrats.
Smith faces up to six months in jail but agreed to plead guilty in exchange for being sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Offender Act for violent crimes by criminals under age 23. The Oakland County Prosecutor's office agreed not to challenge the sentence if Judge William Crawford gives Smith probation and can wipe the charge off Smith's record if he gets in no further trouble during the probation period. Smith, now 24, was 23 at the time of the incident where he admitted making a 1 am phone call to Kelly after denying he did it for months.
The Committee for School Board Integrity press conference was hosted by Kevin Usealman who is a former ABC TV 12 news staff member. He's now a real estate agent.
The recall group is aiming to remove Smith from the Davison school board. Smith, a former TV 5 news staff member, was censured at the last school board meeting after his guilty plea. Davison's city police chief had to step in to restore order after screaming erupted between Smith and the recall group members. Smith was stripped of all committee assignments, barred from running for school board President and the resolution approved by a 4-to-2 vote condemned his actions.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly who is the alleged victim in the high-profile criminal case against Genesee County Republican Party Chairman Matthew Smith.
Grand Blanc school board President James Avery comes up one short of becoming Commissiner
Former State Senator Dave Robertson denies accusations of trying to get Smith to step down
Grand Blanc school board President James Avery comes up one short of becoming Commissiner
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
GRAND BLANC (CCN) — Grand Blanc Board of Education President James Avery came up one vote short on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022) of becoming the newest member of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
Avery as one of seven applicants for the position vacated at mid-term by Grand Blanc Democrat Mark Y
BY MIKE KILLBREATH
CCN Executive Editor
GRAND BLANC (CCN) — Grand Blanc Board of Education President James Avery came up one vote short on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022) of becoming the newest member of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
Avery as one of seven applicants for the position vacated at mid-term by Grand Blanc Democrat Mark Young on Dec. 31.
Commissioner Shaun Shumaker of Fenton complained that the appointment process was "rushed" because others on the board had already pre-determined their pick for the vacant post. He also complained that Commissioner Debra Newman was absent from the meeting and urged the board to delay the vote.
It was 4-to-3 for Avery over Linda Hoff on five founds of voting with no commissioners changing their votes each round. Genesee County Corporation Counsel David Leyton told Commissioner they had 30 days to fill the position, or an election would be required.
The Commissioners voted to reschedule the vote for a 9 am meeting on Jan. 12.
The others who sent in applications for the position included two township officials — Joel Feick who is a current Grand Blanc Township Trustee and former Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Katuman-Jones who has also served in the past on the Genesee County Road Commission. Angeline Carr, Susan Gervers and Terri Chambers were the others who applied.
Hoff has spent 11 years of involvement with the League of Women Voters. She has a long history of community involvement.
Avery works for the Genesee Group's Teen quest program in Flint.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is James Avery who fell one vote short of being appointed as a Genesee County Commissioner.