Karen Weaver

Karen Weaver
Karen Weaver interviewed in 2015
93rd Mayor of Flint
Incumbent
Assumed office November 9, 2015
Governor	Rick Snyder
Preceded by	Dayne Walling
Personal details
Born	Flint, Michigan
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Wrex A. Weaver
Children	3
Parents	T. Wendell Williams and Marion Coates Williams
Education	Tougaloo College (B.A.) Long Island University (M.A.) Michigan State University (Psy.D)

Karen Williams Weaver is an American politician, clinical psychologist, and small business owner who has been the mayor of Flint, Michigan since November 9, 2015. She succeeded Dayne Walling, whom she defeated in a November 2015 election. She is the first female mayor of the city.

Weaver is a member of the Democratic Party, although local offices in Flint are officially nonpartisan. She is also a member of the United States Conference of Mayors.

The youngest of three children, Weaver was born in Flint and grew up on the city's north side. She graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1977. She holds a bachelor's degree from Tougaloo College, a master's degree from Long Island University, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Michigan State University.

Prior to being elected mayor of Flint in 2015, Weaver served on a number of committees in the city, including the Hurley Medical Center Board of Managers, Priority Children and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

In the mayoral election of November 3, 2015, Weaver received 7,825 votes (55%), defeating Walling, who received 6,061 votes (45%). Weaver took office on November 9, 2015.

Shortly after taking office, she declared an emergency in the city due to the water crisis in the area. She also pushed for a similar declaration by state and federal authorities, which were granted by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on January 5, and President Barack Obama on January 16, 2016. According to Weaver, this declaration means that the federal government will now be responsible for disaster relief efforts, rather than the state of Michigan, as had been the case before. In her short term as Mayor, Weaver has visited the White House and met President Obama and has testified before the U.S. House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on the water crisis.