WAYNE COUNTY JUDGE REMOVES DUGGAN FROM AUGUST 6TH BALLOT
JUNE 11, 2013
- Barrow Calls on Detroit City Clerk Winfrey to Immediately Resign
CONTACT: Tom Barrow, 313-922-7769 – Option 4
TEXT: Keyword “BARROW” to 313131 www.BarrowForMayor.Com
Removal of Mike Duggan leaves Mayoral candidates Tom Barrow and Krystal Crittendon with greatly increased opportunities in their campaigns. Here, Barrow (l) and Crittendon (r), take part in a rally against the appointment of EM Kevyn Orr held at the Erma J. Henderson Auditorium. Barrow, a long-time CPA, spoke as a financial expert on the City’s economic condition, while Atty. Krystal Crittendon addressed the legal case against an EM. Both disparaged the Financial Review Team’s report on Detroit’s finances.
DETROIT (June 11) –In a stunning rebuke to the Detroit Election Commission and the Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, Wayne County Circuit Court Chief Deputy Judge Lita Mashini Popke today ruled that Tom Barrow’s complaint seeking to remove mayoral candidate Mike Duggan was valid. Judge Popke also issued an immediate Mandamus Order requiring the Detroit Election Commission to remove Mike Duggan’s name from the August 6th Primary Ballot. She also awarded Barrow his fees and costs for the litigation.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Lita Popke
Mayoral candidate Tom Barrow told a stunned courtroom, “The People of Detroit witnessed the re-establishing of the rule of law in Detroit when this Judge upheld the plain language of the new Detroit City Charter. Contrary to those who would belittle us, Detroiters are wise,” said Barrow.
“Detroiters inserted a residency requirement for common sense reasons so as to prevent another outsider from moving in to become a false Messiah.” he explained. “Mr. Duggan arrogantly ignored our Charter and disobeyed our law and the court said no. The good people of Detroit applaud Judge Popke on making a courageous but accurate interpretation of the law.”
Barrow’s original complaint to the Detroit City Clerk on May 14, 2013, alleged that Mike Duggan did not meet the voter registration requirement that a candidate for elective office be a registered Detroit voter for one year “at the time of filing.” Duggan moved to Detroit from Livonia and registered to vote at his new Detroit address on April 16, 2012, but submitted his nominating petitions on April 2, 2013, fully two-weeks before his one year anniversary on April 16, 2013.
Mike Dugan celebrating takeover of DMC by for-profit Vanguard Health Care, 70 percent owned by a Wall Street hedge fund. Duggan ducked out of the DMC as Vanguard was laying off hundreds of workers there.
Barrow, 64, continued, “Now that we finally have a mayoral race for Detroiters with Detroit candidates, we can focus on solutions for the future and creating a new paradigm for our city. We wish Mr. Duggan good luck in his future endeavors and that he continues to make a contribution to his adopted home.”
However, the remaining and bigger issue is the arrogance and incompetence of the Detroit City Clerk, Janice Winfrey. This complaint was a routine matter which became political when, despite being in a clear “conflict herself,” she refused to recuse herself and completely ignored the clear language of our city Charter and placed Mike Duggan on the ballot. The rationale was a facetious legal analysis by an equally “conflicted” Corporation Counsel, [Edward Keelean] who himself voted for Duggan.
City Clerk Janice Winfrey discussed election rules in 2009 at forum on Prop S ($ half-billion school bond), as Theo Broughton of Hood Research listened disapprovingly.
“The City Clerk’s staff in 2009 was caught trying to fraudulently create a list of second ballot box seals which led to the Wayne County Board of Canvassers final ruling that some 59,961 ballots could not be recounted, including 100% of the 41,215 Absentee Ballots in a contest here only 9,501 would have seen the removal of Dave Bing” said Barrow.
“But as importantly, just recently we have uncovered more evidence of incompetence within the voter rolls right now. We have uncovered massive irregularities and discrepancies including 137,000 voters who have not voted in over 15 years, 14,000 voters who registered on January 1, 1900 making them some 133 years old, some 87,137 voters who registered to vote on October 10, 2000 as well as multiple dead voters and duplicate registrants, all making for a fraudulent and unreliable election.” he said.
“Ms. Winfrey has demonstrated a biased, political and mismanaged administration of the objective City’s elections operations and must resign immediately for the good of the city. Her resignation is especially warranted in the wake of this important ruling against her department and her poor judgment.”
Call ’em Out conducted a sit-in at Janice Winfrey’s office March 22, 2010 to demand her resignation over election irregularities, including Tom Barrow’s revelation of the fact that nearly 60 percent of the ballots in the election were invalid, considered “unrecountable” by the Wayne County Elections Commission. The Commission nonetheless certified the election of Dave Bing, an admitted ally of Gov. Snyder. Bing’s “election” has now resulted in the appointment of EM Kevyn Orr.
Great decision by the judge. Duggan has no right to try to change Detroit’s charter that the citizens worked hard to implement. The citizens put the charter in place for all to abide by. Duggan needs to back off and let it go, or he will look like a white man who is bullying the decisions made by Detroiters, and Detroiters will not take it lightly.