Detroit Free Press Editorial Board
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In many respects, Detroit is a dramatically different city than the one convulsed by a state takeover just eight years ago. The city emerged from its historic municipal bankruptcy in 2014, having wiped out its overwhelming debt largely by slashing the pensions and health care of its retirees.( A balloon pension payment comes due in 2023, something city officials are quietly worried about).
Downtown has been transformed, thanks to investments by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert and others. The city has maintained a balanced budget, enjoyed modest surpluses, and had been on a generally upward trajectory until COVID-19 posed a new threat to its financial stability.
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Detroit The City Council on Tuesday decided it won t fill the seat vacated by indicted member Gabe Leland.
Detroit s now eight-member council unanimously agreed it will leave Leland s District 7 seat open until city voters cast ballots in November.
The decision caps a two-week debate over how and when to proceed with appointing a new member to finish out Leland s unexpired term. The councilman resigned earlier this month after pleading guilty in state court to misconduct in office charges.
After an hour of discussion Tuesday, efforts to adopt a nominated process failed. Ultimately, District 3 Councilman Scott Benson proposed a motion to appoint the certified winner of the Nov. 2 general election. The winner will immediately take office, finishing Leland s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2021. The new member will then assume office Jan. 1, 2022, for the new, four-year term, the council decided.
Detroit City Council in discussions to replace disgraced ex-member Gabe Leland
By Ingrid Kelley and David Komer online producer
Published
Detroit effort to replace disgraced ex-councilman Gabe Leland underway
Now the process begins to determine who replaces him.
Now the process begins to determine who replaces him. The charter obligates the council to appoint a person to fulfill the vacant position vacated by Mr. Leland, said David Whittaker, director, legislative policy division. The council shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy within 60 days of the date it became vacant.
But with the general election just a few months away in November, some question if an appointment makes the most sense.