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Lawsuit Claims Warren Evans Not A Valid Candidate Due To Residency Issue

DETROIT (WWJ) - Phil Cavanagh, one of the candidates for Wayne County Executive, has filed a lawsuit trying to get another candidate off the ballot.

Cavanagh says Warren Evans was not a Wayne County residents long enough to be on the August 5th primary ballot.

"You have to be a qualified candidate, and to be a qualified candidate you must be a resident for 30 days prior to, Warren Evans changed his home status voting registration - all that - the day before he filed. He is not a qualified candidate to be on the ballot," said Cavanagh.

"Warren Evans is a lawyer, he's law enforcement, and the onus is upon him to read the statute and follow the statute. The fact that he is a Washtenaw resident - that may have just saw opportunity in Wayne County and jumped at it, " said Cavanagh.

Evans' attorney issued a statement saying the suits should be thrown out because they were filed to close to the primary election and thousands of votes have already been cast.

This isn't the first time Evans has been linked to controversy: Evans was forced out of his job as Detroit Police Chief in 2010 after a pitch reel for a reality show was released showing him breaking down doors and toting automatic weapons. Then-mayor Dave Bing had banned TV crews from going out with cops after a 7-year-old girl was killed during a police raid filmed for "The First 48."

Evans was also romantically involved with a subordinate — Lt. Monique Patterson — who, in an odd twist, was also having an affair with the married Ralph Godbee, who replaced him as Detroit's top cop.

A June poll had Evans leading among Democratic voters likely to participate in the primary election for Wayne County Executive in August.

Evans and Cavanagh are two of 11 candidates who are vying for the Democratic nomination in the race for county executive.

More on the Primary Election [HERE].

 

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