FLINT, MI (WNEM) – The Flint City Council was supposed to elect officers Monday night, Nov. 11, according to the city charter, but as of 10:30 p.m., that has yet to happen.

Monday night’s meeting comes just two weeks after the deadline to fill the Ward 3 seat previously held by the late Councilman Quincy Murphy.

It is nothing new for the city council; each year, on the second Monday of November, the elected positions of the committee chair expire. The only caveat this year is that the 3rd seat on the city council is already vacant, which makes voting for a new president that much harder.

“We still have work to complete and I hope we don’t get stuck,” Councilwoman Tonya Burns said.

The council was deadlocked Monday night as the city council could not agree on who will be chosen as the next council president.

Dozens after dozens of rounds, four votes go to Candice Mushatt as the next president, the other four to newcomer Jonathan Jarrett.

“This council, we need someone who can bring this council together and not keep tearing us apart,” Burns said.

Deadlocked on their decisions, Burns said selecting the right person could turn things around for the city council and bring them back to an agreement.

“It’s time to start treating this council as a body of nine and not five. Every ward has representation and every ward should get representation on this city council,” Burns said.

The Flint City Council tried to appoint someone to Ward 3 a month ago, but that Oct. 14 meeting was cut short after violence broke out in council chambers.

“It’s time for new leadership so that everyone feels welcome, everyone feels safe, so that we can focus on economic development. Focus on moving the city together,” Burns said.

But taking that first step to move forward will be challenging.

As of 10:30 p.m., the city council had more than 100 rounds of voting and no council president had been elected.

Step two is selecting a vice president and then committee chairs, and last but not least, moving on to city business and discussing resolutions, none of which can happen until new council leadership is decided.

“Where will the council go? Will we be able to bring back civility? It can be a long night,” Burns said.

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