davis

Wantwaz Davis believes in second chances. He should since the city of Flint, Mi., granted him a big one. Davis beat incumbent Bernard Lawler by 71 votes, winning a Flint City Council seat last week, an interesting feat given Davis’ past.

Davis served 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 1991.

From Grand Haven Tribune:

Davis said he discussed his conviction openly with Flint residents. Davis, who was 17 in 1991 when Kenneth S. Morris was fatally shot at his home, said Morris “went and reached in his pocket, so I reached in my pocket and I shot him. When I found out he later died, I turned myself in. I never intended to shoot Mr. Morris. To this day, I am very remorseful.”

Read more at Grand Haven Tribune

Davis, who was released on parole in 2010, says that shying away from his past is something that he is not interested in as it will help him on the council.

Another former felon, Eric Mays, was also elected to the council last Tuesday. Mays pleaded guilty to felonious assault in 1987 and served a year of probation. Michigan does not prohibit felons from seeking election after they’ve been released from prison.

 

Thoughts on the men being given a second chance?

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