Flint City Councilman Quincy Murphy dies

FLINT, MI – First-term Flint City Councilman Quincy Murphy has died, the city announced Sunday, Sept. 29.

“The beloved community activist and Third Ward councilman was a tireless advocate for the residents he served,” reads a statement from the city. “We offer our deepest condolences to his family.”

Murphy, a longtime activist in the Dewey Park neighborhood, won his council term during the November 2022 election.

Related: Voters make Quincy Murphy new 3rd Ward representative on Flint City Council

He’d also served as a member of the Flint Charter Commission and Mass Transportation Authority Board of Directors, according to MLive-Flint Journal records.

“My prayers are with Councilman Murphy’s family, friends, and all those who loved him,” Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “During this difficult time of grief, I ask our community to respect the privacy of Councilman Murphy’s family.

“This is a moment to come together as one unified community in the spirit of service that Mr. Murphy embodied.”

Murphy campaigned on his track record of community service and “getting stuff done in the 3rd Ward and around the city of Flint.”

He faced a recall election in November.

“I will be running for my seat again,” Murphy said after signatures allowing the recall election to proceed were validated in June. “I will not be giving up my seat. I’ll continue to do the work I was elected to do.”

Ward 3 is roughly bounded by the city’s eastern-most border, Carpenter Road on the north, Saginaw Street and King Avenue on the west, and Hamilton Avenue on the south. The Flint River runs through the ward.

Murphy is the second Flint City Councilperson to die this year.

1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays died on Feb. 24. Mays, 65, was serving a third term on council.

The flag at Flint City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in Councilman Murphy’s honor beginning Monday, September 30.