Judge orders Mike Duggan off Detroit Mayoral ballot
A Wayne County judge today ordered Mike Duggan off the Detroit mayoral primary ballot in August in a decision that could throw turmoil into the race to replace Mayor Dave Bing.
Wayne County Circuit Judge Lita M. Popke sided with mayoral contender Tom Barrow, who, along with labor activist Robert Davis, challenged Duggan’s candidacy. They argued that Duggan had not lived in Detroit for a full year by April 2, the day Duggan turned in nominating signatures to make the ballot.
Duggan’s camp did not argue the date he moved into the city, but said the date of his candidacy should be considered the later date of May 14, the city’s filing deadline for candidates to make the August ballot.
Today’s decision appeared likely to be appealed. Duggan, the former CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, is a front-runner along with Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon.
“The court finds that the Detroit City Charter’s provisions regarding the qualifications for elective office are clear and unambiguous,” Popke said in her ruling this afternoon. “The candidate must have been a qualified and registered voter in the city of Detroit for one year before he filed for office.”
Duggan issued a statement shortly after the ruling.
“This ruling is contrary to the opinion of every election lawyer who has looked at the case,” Duggan said. “We're reviewing our legal options with our lawyers and will make a decision shortly on how we'll proceed.
http://www.freep.com/article/20130611/NEWS/306110110/Mike-Duggan-Detroit-mayoral-race
Good for him...
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