Former Detroit Medical Center Mike Duggan effectively ended his mayoral race Wednesday, announcing that he will not ask the Michigan Supreme Court to reverse a ruling declaring him ineligible to run.
“We've had an awful lot of fun and you guys in the media are probably going to miss me,” Duggan said. "But yesterday two judges of three on the Court of Appeals ruled I'm not properly on the ballot."
The Appeals Court upheld a Wayne County Circuit Court ruling that Duggan filed his petitions too early to qualify as a candidate because of the City Charter’s one-year eligibility rule. Duggan, who filed to run on April 2, had argued that eligibility was based on the May 14 campaign-filing deadline rather than the specific day a candidate actually files his with the city clerk. However, the courts have disagreed with that interpretation.
Duggan registered to vote as a Detroit on April 12, 2012, meaning he filed to run ten days before the charter, as interpreted by the courts, allowed.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think you could be knocked off the ballot for filing petitions too soon," Duggan said. "The damage caused by these court rulings is too much to overcome."
Duggan dismissed criticism of his campaign's legal team, saying he takes the blame for the misstep.
He said he intends to remain a Detroit resident and hopes to "help" the city in some other capacity. However, he said wouldn't be interested in serving in another's mayoral administration. He also ruled out running for Wayne County Executive, adding that he's done with seeking elected office.
Duggan said he will likely endorse another candidate at some point, but declined to state a preference for any of the remaining candidates at this time.
