State selects Prima Civitas exec as Flint emergency manager

WKAR Public Media

Published November 29, 2011 at 6:15 PM EST

By AP

LANSING, MI –

Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed an ex-acting mayor of Flint to be the city's emergency manager.

Snyder announced Tuesday that Michael Brown will be Flint's emergency manager. He's president of the East Lansing-based Prima Civitas Foundation and director of the Flint Area Reinvestment Office.

Brown will have broad authority to make changes in the financially troubled city, including the power to oversee city government and toss out union contracts in some situations.

A revised state law approved this year expands the powers of emergency managers. Michigan officials decided earlier this month that a financial emergency exists in Flint.

Brown was acting Flint mayor for six months in 2009.

Michigan already has emergency managers in place in the Detroit school system and the cities of Benton Harbor, Ecorse and Pontiac.

SUSTAIN what matters. BUILD what’s next.

With federal funding eliminated, WKAR relies more than ever on community support to sustain essential services that remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan. Your support helps shape what comes next for public media in our region. The best way to support WKAR is by becoming a sustaining member today or by upgrading your current gift. Support WKAR TV Here | Support WKAR Radio Here.