City Of Troy Faces Possible Lawsuit Over Special Election For Mayor

TROY (WWJ) - The city of Troy has missed the state's deadline to agree to hold a special election in February to fill the seat of the city's recently recalled mayor.

Troy city attorney, Lori Bluhm says they have not agreed to a special election because there's a conflict in two state laws on the matter.

"One of the laws requires us to follow the charter provision and it's a mandate for us to do that and we will follow that mandate," said Bluhm.

The city attorney has sent a letter to the State Elections office hoping to avoid a lawsuit over a special election.

The letter says Michigan election law is ambiguous. State officials have said Troy must call a special election in February to select a mayor to replace Janice Daniels who was voted out of office earlier this month. The city council swore in councilman Dane Slater as mayor last week. He was to serve for the next year.

Bluhm says the Charter allows them to wait to fill the seat in the next election in November. State officials have said that Troy must call a special election in February or face a lawsuit.

State lawmakers are making an effort to clarify the law through legislation being introduced in the lame duck session.