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Published on: 5/15/2008
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Continue reading "Flint Mayor Don Williamson gets statewide soapbox by going Tim Skubick's 'Off the Record' TV show" » | Post a comment | View comments
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Flint Mayor Don Williamson gets statewide soapbox by going Tim Skubick's 'Off the Record' TV show
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Don Williamson
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FLINT, Michigan -- This was no ordinary television appearance for Flint Mayor Don Williamson.
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And there sat Flint's own Williamson, whose announcement that he would run for governor in 2010 sparked the appearance.
Here in Genesee County, Williamson is loved by some, hated by others and known by all.
The interview televised over the weekend was his statewide premiere.
In the wide-ranging interview -- topics included Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick ("embarrassing") to former Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos ("a fine person") -- Williamson remained cordial but lively and echoed many of the same anti-establishment, workhorse ideals he projected throughout his campaigns for Flint mayor.Flint Journal extras
Related articles on Don Williamson's bid for governor:
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, May 1, 2008: Bottom line key for Flint Mayor Don Williamson's gubernatorial campaign
, May 1, 2008: Flint Mayor Don Williamson to run for governor, pledges to pay state $50K if elected
, May 1, 2008: Williamson confirms gubernatorial bid
, April 30, 2008: Can he do it?Flint Mayor Don Williamson considering run for governor of Michigan
, April 30, 2008: Run for governor could be in Flint Mayor Don Williamson's future
, April 30, 2008: Political adviser: Flint Mayor Don Williamson to run for governorAs usual, he delivered colorful responses -- leaving his questioners grinning, sometimes with looks of disbelief on their faces.
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Williamson told The Flint Journal on Wednesday that many people called him and told him he did a great job on the show.
"I'm getting my message out," said Williamson, who says statewide voters are looking for something different from the typical politician."You have to be open-minded.You have to be creative."
On the show, Williamson bragged about the streets he's paved in Flint and unabashedly defined himself as a different sort of politician -- specifically highlighting his falling out with the Democratic Party, which campaigned against him last year in his re-election bid.
"Most politicians are very self-serving," Williamson said on the show."I'm not that way.I want to help the people."
Williamson also downplayed his criminal record on the show.
He served more than three years in prison in the 1960s on charges that he conspired to operate a car-theft ring and for violating the National Bankruptcy Act.
"Were you guilty?"
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"I don't think I was guilty," Williamson said."A jury found me guilty.All I did was loan some people some money."
Williamson said Wednesday that he doesn't mind when people ask him about his past.
"Everyone in Flint has beaten that horse to death," Williamson said.
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Williamson could face Lt.Gov.
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During the show, Williamson, a multimillionaire businessman, again pledged to pay the state $50,000 for the honor of being governor.
"I'm not in this for the money.I'm in this because the state needs help," Williamson said on the show.
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The good news is that if Williamson becomes governor he can pick up trash, clean streets, and fill potholes state wide, as opposed to just in the city.I've said it before, and I'll say it again WHAT A JOKE!!!I can't wait to see how he fairs in places like Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield, and Traverse City.This is just another thing he'll do to help Flint look increasingly stupid.He's didn't even realize that the gentlemen interviewing him on this broadcast were making fun of his ignorance/insolence.WHAT A JOKE!!!
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