Oakland County Democratic Party Files Suit Over District Maps

Frank Houston, Oakland County Democratic Party Chair, is the lead plaintiff in a suit filed this week in Ingham County Circuit Court in response to the passage (and Gubernatorial approval) of legislation providing the Oakland County Board of Commissioners with the authority to redraw district lines.

House Bill 5187, now Public Act 280 of 2011, shifted the authority to the Board of Commissioners from a five-member panel composed of the county prosecutor, treasurer, clerk and the chairs of both major county political parties. In Oakland County, that five-member panel had concluded their work in redrawing the district lines, which was upheld in court. The panel was of a Democratic majority while the Board of Commissioners, now with the authority to redraw the lines under the new law, is of a Republican majority.

The foundation for the suit is that the law is unconstitutional as it is a local act only affecting Oakland County; therefore, requiring a two-thirds supermajority approval by the Legislature. Additionally, the suit contends that the new statute does not provide enough time for the statutory judicial review of the new maps from the County Board of Commissioners prior to the May 15 filing deadline for candidates.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, January 6, 2012 10:54 AM
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