Dayne Walling

Early life and education

Walling was born on March 3, 1974 to two Flint schools educators. In 1992, he graduated from Flint Central High School.

Walling then earned a bachelor's degree in social relations from Michigan State University. He attended the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship getting a bachelor's in modern history. He followed that with a master's degree in urban affairs from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Public life

Walling began his public service career in the mayor's office in Washington, DC. For over two years, he worked as manager of research and communication. During that time, Walling was a founder and president of the Flint Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. Walling had also served as U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee's Field coordinator and worked to get out the vote for National Voice.

He then became a policy advocate for Urban Coalition of Minnesota and was a doctoral candidate at University of Minnesota. After an April 2004 Flint forum, Walling decided to move back to Flint to run for mayor. In May 2006, Walling and his family moved to Kensington Avenue in Flint. He worked for one year as a senior research fellow at the Genesee County Land Bank.

Political career

In the 2007 primary, Walling was one of seven candidates for mayor. Walling made it to the general election along with Don Williamson. Walling received support by the Michigan Democratic Party but lost to Williamson. On August 4, 2009, Walling won the special general mayoral election over Genesee County Commissioner Brenda Clack to replace Williamson after his resignation.

David Davenport, a school board member, filed recall language with the county election commission, which approve the language that named cutting fire and police protection as reasons for the recalled. In the third quarter 2010, recall petitions were turned in by the Committee to Recall Dayne Walling were rejected for signature issues. The committee attempted to have those signature reinstated by the courts.

On October 26, 2010, the Karegnondi Water Authority Board of Trustees met for the first time with representatives from the incorporating counties and cities. Walling was elected chair.

In his bid to be re-elected, Walling came in first in the nonpartisan general primary on August 2, 2011 with Darryl Buchanan taking second to face off with him in the general election in November. On November 8, 2011, Walling defeated Buchanan 8,819 votes (56%) to 6,868 votes (44%).

During his first campaign for mayor, Walling promised to spearhead a new master plan for the city of Flint. The plan then in place was over 50 years old. In October of 2013, the citizens of Flint adopted the first new master plan since 1960. Over 5,000 Flint residents took part in the process to craft a road map for Flint’s future. The Imagine Flint Master Plan now serves as a guide for City operations and a blueprint for new developments. The plan has won numerous awards and is only the third plan in the city's history.

Walling served as the chair of the national Manufacturing Alliance of Communities from 2013 through 2015. As chair, he championed Flint's role in the transformation of the U.S. manufacturing industry. Walling also led the Maker Mayors effort which led to the first-ever Maker Faire at the White House with President Obama.

On the date of his re-election, the Michigan State review panel declared the City of Flint to be in state of a "local government financial emergency". His authority as Flint Mayor was superseded by the appointment by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder of Michael Brown as the city's Emergency Manager on November 29 effective December 1. After a series of emergency manager on April 30, 2015, the state moved the city from under from an emergency manager receivership to a Receivership Transition Advisory Board. On July 1, 2014, Walling as mayor was given operating authority over two city departments, Planning and Development and Public Works, by Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley.

In late 2014, Walling became an instructor at the University of Michigan-Flint for its fall semester teaching POL 324: Seminar in Applied Politics – Institutional & Leadership Practices.

Flint water crisis

In 2014, the City of Flint began undertaking a water supply switch-over from Lake Huron to the Flint River. After the switch was made, residents immediately complained about the smell, taste, and color of the water, as well as skin problems after bathing. State and city officials reassured the public that Flint's water was safe, with Mayor Walling personally testifying to its safety by drinking the water on local television and tweeting that he and his family drink Flint water every day.

In early September 2015, Walling requested an additional $10 million from the state government to replace water service lines with lead or lead solder and for the city to step up development of a corrosion control plan to be finished by the end of the year. After meeting with Doctor Mona Hanna-Attisha, the lead doctor of the Hurley Hospital Lead Study, Walling issued an advisory on lead while the state still had issue with the study. Doctors recommended ending the use of the Flint river as a water supply, but were told in a meeting with Walling and other city officials that such a move would bankrupt the city. Mayor Walling negotiated with the governor and the CS Mott Foundation to assist with the costs and Flint switched back to Detroit water in October 2015.

The water crisis was at the center of the November 2015 election. Walling ultimately lost his re-election bid to Karen Weaver.