Mayor First

FLINT - Mayor Don Williamson tops a list of 15 people ordered to testify
beginning today during an investigative hearing into whether city
employees were forced to work on Patsy Lou Williamson's unsuccessful state
Senate campaign.
Unlike in October, when the mayor balked at testifying during a hearing
about unspent federal funds, Williamson said he will testify - and show up
early.
"I feel honored," he joked, adding, "I'm shocked they would subpoena me.
Everyone who knows me knows" workers weren't forced to help his wife's
campaign.
Administrators could be fired if testimony shows that anyone forced
employees to help the campaign during work hours.
The hearing is expected to extend into next week because some witnesses
had not been served with subpoenas, Councilman Ehren Gonzales said.
Last month, allegations surfaced that workers were forced to spruce up
Woodlawn Park, where Patsy Lou Williamson held a campaign picnic, and
erect campaign signs.
The subpoena list includes a mix of city employees, a few Williamson
allies and some of his fiercest critics, including activist Alex Harris
and Kate Fields, executive director of the Greater Eastside Community
Association.
Patsy Lou Williamson is not expected to testify.
The mix of loyalties among those people expected to testify concerns
Gonzales.
"My main concern is, are people going into this with open minds?" he said.

Southeast-side resident Deborah Holmes was surprised Wednesday to learn
she had been subpoenaed.
The council is interested in Holmes because she said a Brennan Community
Center employee approached her and others gathered at the center before
the Aug. 8 primary and asked them to take a Patsy Lou Williamson yard
sign.
No one did, Holmes said.
"I felt he shouldn't be doing that during working hours," said Holmes, who
said she is willing to cooperate with the investigation.
*** Mayor leads list in probe
Flint council issues 15 subpoenas
FLINT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Thursday, August 31, 2006
By Robert Snell
rsnell@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6302