The2002 Flint mayoral special election took place on August 6, 2002. On March 5, 2002, votersrecalled MayorWoodrow Stanley, and city administratorDarnell Earley became temporary mayor. A special election was originally scheduled for May 7, 2002, but the state legislature cancelled the election to allow GovernorJohn Engler to appoint a financial review team to evaluate the city's finances. The election was ultimately rescheduled for August 6, 2002.[1] On May 22, 2002, Engler declared a financial emergency in the city,[2] and appointed Ed Kurtz, the President ofBaker College, as emergency financial manager on July 8.[3] As a result, following the state takeover, the winner of the special election would have fewer powers.[4]
While several candidates planned on running, former MayorJames W. Rutherford ended up being the only candidate to appear on the ballot.[4] After the Reverend A.J. Pointer failed to qualify from the ballot, he announced that he would run as a write-in candidate.[5] Though Pointer attracted a significant level of support for a write-in candidate,[6] Rutherford ultimately won handily, receiving 70 percent of the vote to Pointer's 30 percent, becoming the oldest person to be elected as Mayor.[7]
