Political life is documented primarily in the local newspapers. Some of the prominent and notable figures are discussed below.
The election of a Socialist, John Menton, as mayor in 1910, is described in chapter 5 of Richard W. Judd's Socialist Cities: Municipal Politics and the Grass Roots of American Socialism. One of his chief sources is Flint Flashes, the Socialist newspaper, which is at the Sloan Museum. The papers of Menton's successor as mayor, C. S. Mott, are useful for his career.
For the career of the first black mayor of Flint, Floyd McCree, whose election in 1966 made national headlines, the Edgar Holt papers are relevant, as well as for black issues statewide in the 1960s.
In the latter part of the 20th century, the most important politicians to have come out of Flint have been Donald Riegle (U.S. Congressman, 1966-1976; U.S. Senator, 1976-1994) and Dale Kildee (State Representative, 1964-1974; State Senator, 1975-1976; U.S. Congressman, 1977-2012). Their papers are in the GHCC.
University of Michigan-Flint