Detroit Council Member Legal Battle Over Ballot Access

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A courtroom scene representing the ongoing legal battle regarding ballot access in Detroit.

News Summary

Detroit City Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero has filed a lawsuit against city election officials after being disqualified from the August primary ballot due to alleged clerical errors. Claiming her disqualification stems from an unpaid late fee, she argues it should not have impacted her candidacy. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to maintain her position on the ballot while highlighting systemic issues within the election office. The case underscores ongoing challenges in Detroit’s political landscape as Santiago-Romero prepares for a potential write-in campaign.

Detroit City Council Member Takes Legal Action Over Ballot Issue

Detroit is buzzing with news as City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero has officially filed a lawsuit against the Detroit City Clerk and the Detroit Election Commission. This move, made on April 25, 2025, is in response to her controversial disqualification from the upcoming August primary ballot.

The Heart of the Matter

According to Santiago-Romero, the trouble stems from what she describes as a clerical error at the Wayne County Clerk’s Office. The snafu involves an unpaid late filing fee of just $250, which she argues should not have disqualified her candidacy. She received the disheartening news of her disqualification on April 21, just days before the lawsuit was filed.

During a recent press conference at Clark Park, Santiago-Romero stressed her determination to fight this injustice. She labeled her situation a “candidate’s worst nightmare,” emphasizing the unexpected turn of events that left her feeling cornered. It’s clear that she believes strongly in her case, stating that the facts support her claims.

Aiming for Action

The lawsuit itself seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the primary ballot from being finalized without her name on it. The core argument revolves around a campaign finance report that her team is convinced was filed on time back on October 25, 2024. Her campaign holds documentation, including a receipt, that they believe substantiates their claim of timely submission.

The Wayne County Clerk’s Office, however, asserts that the late fee was issued because her campaign supposedly missed the deadline for the report. As part of her candidacy filing on April 17, Santiago-Romero signed an Affidavit of Identity but was not informed of any overdue fees—a crucial detail that could affect her eligibility.

Points of Contention

The lawsuit further argues that the late fee should not have triggered her disqualification at all, given the county’s alleged failure to notify her campaign about the penalty as required by state law. While the campaign received a notice about the failure to file on October 28, the law mandates that such notices be sent via registered mail within four business days. Santiago-Romero’s camp believes they did not receive this notification in the proper timeframe.

In a bid to resolve the issue amicably, Santiago-Romero’s team attempted to communicate with the Wayne County Clerk’s Office. Yet, despite reaching out, they found the office unresponsive, which compelled her to take legal action.

The Next Steps

Should she remain off the ballot, Santiago-Romero has indicated her plans to launch a write-in campaign. She remains optimistic, drawing on the support from her community in Southwest Detroit and parts of downtown that she represents. The lawsuit also reflects a broader frustration, as she argues that “Detroiters deserve better” treatment from their electoral offices.

Representing Santiago-Romero in court is Mark Brewer, an attorney with Goodman Acker. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time such a situation has emerged in Wayne County politics. A similar lawsuit was filed in 2022 by Wayne County Commissioner Tim Killeen concerning disqualification over overdue campaign finance reports.

A Long Road Ahead

Santiago-Romero has been serving on the council since her election in 2021 and this lawsuit was filed in Wayne County’s Third Circuit Court. As of now, there are no upcoming court dates scheduled, leaving the future of her candidacy in a state of uncertainty.

As this legal drama unfolds, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the upcoming primary and the dynamics of Detroit’s political landscape. Will Santiago-Romero prevail in her fight for ballot access? Only time will tell.