Group sues to get election proposal on Nov. ballot

WKAR Public Media

Published September 18, 2009 at 7:04 AM EDT

By AP

DETROIT – A judge has scheduled a hearing on a lawsuit aimed at forcing the Detroit city clerk to place a proposal to elect council members by district on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court by Detroiters for City Council by Districts. It says Clerk Janice Winfrey "has been hampered" by the current city council, which refuses to draft ballot language for the proposal.

Judge Virgil Smith hears the case at 11 a.m. Friday.

Lawyers for the city say the proposal is inconsistent with the Home Rule City Act.

The group submitted more than 38,000 signatures last month for its proposal to have seven council members elected by districts and two at-large.

All nine members now are elected at-large.

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