WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — They filed to run in the Warren city races this year and when they got the runaround, they called me to help get some answers. We went with them to city hall and now they're both back on the ballot.
First, some background:
Last week after the filing deadline closed, Jerry Bell, a candidate for the 5th District City Council, and Andrey Duzyj, a candidate for City Clerk, were told they were kicked off the ballot because of the city charter. We went with them to the Clerk’s office with cameras rolling.
Bell had been told he couldn’t run because of a felony theft case 20 years ago. Bell says he talked with an attorney and the ACLU because this violated his civil rights.
He says, ‘Its just plain old dirty politics. Because we’re a threat. We’re strong candidates.”
Duzyj filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging this in Macomb County Circuit Court.
He says, “I think the suit actually kicked it into high gear.”
Timing is everything and Warren City Attorney Ethan Vinson was coming into work as we were talking at the Clerk’s office. He says he issued a legal opinion but has now changed his opinion because of precedent pointed out by Duzji. He says both are on the ballot. They want it in writing. And they both say if elected, they want to revise the city charter.
