#MediaFail: Convicted Murderer Gets City Council Seat Due to Media Oversight

There's something to be said about the role of the media in this world. Sure, the evening news is nothing but a replay about who has been killed, raped, beat up and the frequent drive-by. It gets tiring watching that crap over and over and over again, I know. But they have a job to do. And trust me, when the media does not do that job, everyone knows. Meet Wantwaz Davis of Flint, Mich. Kudos are in order for the man because he recently beat incumbent Bernard Lawler by 71 votes to win the Fifth Ward seat for the City Council. Only one small problem: typically, the media is all over potential elected officials' backgrounds. You know, their infidelity, bebes kids, back taxes and, oh yeah, pleading guilty to murder! Yes, that's right citizens of Flint, your newly elected city councilman served 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 1991. Much to the chagrin to the usual more than 50 percent that were too lazy to get off their butt and vote, it seems Davis didn't "hide his murder conviction from voters and openly talked about the conviction with residents," but it never was publicly reported. But wait, there's more after the jump... "The council people are elected. They're going to get sworn in on Monday. Nothing you write about it is going to change it now," Council President Scott Kincaid said. "It's not something that was hidden or should be a surprise to constituents in the Fifth Ward." Yeah, that's concern from a caring man. Yes, the media knew about Davis' orange jumpsuited past, but said nothing. Nada. Bupkus. Zelch. You know, if I lived in Flint, Mich., I would move as close to Billings, Mont. as fast as humanly possible. Thanks to the local media's ethics of not doing their friggin' job...reporting everything they discover, this makes up the dystopia known as the Flint City Council. Also on the elected nine-member council are: First Ward councilman-elect Eric Mays pleaded guilty to felonious assault in 1987 and served a year of probation. Mays said the man had been threatening his life before Mays threatened him with a gun. Second ward Councilwoman Jackie Poplar filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in federal bankruptcy court in 2004, a year before first being elected to City Council. She repaid nearly $21,000 to her creditors over six years. Newly elected Seventh Ward councilwoman Monica Galloway and her husband filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 1999, according to federal court records And if you have any reservations about traveling up north, I should share with you (since the local media sure as hell will not) that the newly elected council comes as the city looks to regain local control after one year, 11 months under a state takeover. That's Pure Michigan. Good times.

Social Pro Daily

#MediaFail: Convicted Murderer Gets City Council Seat Due to Media Oversight

Shawn Paul Wood

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Shawn Paul Wood