Connerly Faces Challenges in Michigan, but Moves Forward
Feature Story by Ritu Kelotra - 5/25/2004
Although Ward Connerly's anti-affirmative action campaign in Michigan is facing internal difficulties and legal challenges, the campaign is moving forward and Connerly plans to pay volunteers to circulate signature-gathering petitions.July 6 is the deadline by which Connerly must submit the 317,757 signatures needed to place the so-called "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative" on the November 2 ballot.
On June 8, a three-judge panel with the Michigan Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear oral argument regarding a challenge to ballot petition language for the so-called Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filed the appeal in response to a March 26 decision that the Connerly petition did not fully inform voters of the effect on the state's constitution, and should not have been approved by the Board of Canvassers.
In the March decision, Ingham County Circuit Judge Paula Manderfield held that the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative petition fails, as required by Michigan law, to reflect the language of the state constitution as it stands and as it would be amended.
Judge Manderfield also stated that the Michigan State Board of Canvassers' approval given for the MCRI petition "flies in the face of the underlying purpose of the popular amendment process" which is to assure all voters are fully informed of the effect a proposal would have on the state's constitution.
In a separate decision, Wayne County Circuit Judge Susan Borman held that it was too early to rule on the constitutionality of the proposed ballot initiative.
Following these decisions, the Board of State Canvassers reversed their earlier decision and rejected Connerly's petition.
The Detroit Free Press reported in late April that Connerly's campaign is experiencing other difficulties beyond these legal challenges, including issues with personnel.
California-based Connerly was the lead proponent of California's Proposition 209 in 1996 and Washington State's Initiative 200 in1998 – ballot initiatives that eradicated affirmative action in higher education and employment in those states. As Connerly moves forward, the mainstream, Michigan-based coalition Citizens for a United Michigan continues to mobilize against the anti-affirmative action measure.
