Flint's Giggles the Pig mayor campaign draws global attention

Mlive.com ^ | May 09, 2015 | Gary Ridley

[cripplecreek]

FLINT, MI -- What started as a local attorney's way to draw attention to an unusual mayor's election has turned into an international phenomenon as Giggles the Pig makes headlines around the globe.

News organizations from Russia and the Netherlands have picked up the story of the small porcine from Flint whose owner is attempting to enter into the mayor's race. Even CNN ran a story Friday, May 8, about Giggles' attempt to take on the Vehicle City's political establishment.

Attorney Michael Ewing announced Giggles' campaign on Facebook on May 4 following news this week that no names would appear on the upcoming mayoral primary ballot because the clerk's office gave the wrong campaign filing date to candidates.

Four candidates, including Mays, were informed that they filed enough signatures to be certified, but wouldn't be on the ballot because they missed the deadline by a week.

The state said the city must proceed with an all write-in candidate election.

Ewing said he believed an all-write-in mayoral race could result in residents electing an unqualified leader, and Giggles' campaign aimed to bring more public attention to the race.

"It's grown much larger than I've ever thought," Ewing said of the campaign.

Requests for T-shirts and yard signs supporting Giggles have poured in from around the country. People from around the globe have even logged on to Giggles' Facebook page to pledge their support.

However, not everyone has been supportive of Giggle's campaign.

Flint councilman and mayoral candidate Eric Mays has accused the campaign of racism and Mayoral candidate Karen Weaver, who along with incumbent Mayor Dayne Walling and councilman Wantwaz Davis were notified their names wouldn't appear on the primary ballot, called Giggles' candidacy and the deadline snafu a "mockery of the democratic process."

But, while the media attention has been nearly overwhelming for Ewing, he said he and Giggles still plan to hit the streets to try to educate voters about the importance of the upcoming mayoral election and "shed light on the dark corners of Flint politics."

[Steven Scharf]

None of these candidates should be allowed to run for mayor. The 2nd rule of politcs is know all of the rules.

From anther article about this: “Genesee County Clerk John Gleason said he sympathizes with the candidates, but they should have known the correct deadline.

“It always lies with the candidate,” Gleason said. “The candidate should always know the law. I find it unusual that somebody that was going to run a major city would not understand that you have to count back 15 weeks from the first Tuesday after the first Monday of the election month.”

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/05/amid_flint_mayoral_race_chaos.html

I was going to say exactlywhat he said and found this article in looking for the authority of the deadline.

[BerryDingle]

If a pig is elected mayor and it’s a mockery of the democratic process, why isn’t a Kenyon in the White Hut?

[cripplecreek]

Instead they’re demanding that the state change the law to accommodate their idiot butts.

[MeshugeMikey]

Rite Awn RIte Awn!!

Bacon....Pork Chops..awl kinna pigmeat

[MeshugeMikey]

ahahaha Moore is actually from Neighboring Davidson Michigan... but was afraid that no one would care....about such a small town with far less troubles than Flint

[MCH]

Pretty funny stuff!!

She has a facebook page too! See https://www.facebook.com/GigglesThePig4FlintMayor

[cripplecreek]

While continuing to claim he is a Christian and it is indeed him in the portrait, Giggles did not provide any explanation for the portrait of himself in Islamic garb.

[MeshugeMikey]

I LIKED IKE

I Love Giggles!