Eric Mays: Flint City Councilman known for confrontational style

Outspoken longtime US Flint City Councilman Eric Mays has died at the age of 65.

Eric Mays breathed his last on Saturday evening due to natural causes after an illness, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said in a statement.

Neeley said Mays’ death is a tremendous loss for our community and a shock to family and all friends, reports mlive.com.

“We, on behalf of Councilman Mays’ family, ask that community members respect their privacy and allow them time and space to mourn, as our community grieves during this difficult time,” the mayor said.

Eric Mays was known for his outgoing behavior and clashes with other city council members. He was serving his third term on Flint’s city council representing the city’s 1st Ward.

The Councilman had gathered national attention with videos of his antics that went viral on many occasions. It had helped him collect over 200,000 TikTok followers.

As Mays remained popular in his ward, voters re-elected him three times. He was elected to his council seat first in 2013 defeating his rival candidate Anita Brown.

Four years later, Eric Mays defeated Brown again by a much wider margin and he was re-elected to his latest term in November 2021.

The city dwellers mark Mays’ political career with his passionate argument.

Last April, the Councilman was awarded six months’ probation for disorderly conduct during a city council meeting in 2022. After the judge’s ruling, Mays did not seek any apology.

However, the flag at Flint City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in honor of Eric Mays on Monday (February 26).