Latest news with #AffidavitofIdentity
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero to be on 2025 ballot, drops lawsuit
Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who sued the city and its elections commission for disqualifying her from the August primary, is dropping the lawsuit after the campaign and city clerk's office agreed to place her on the ballot. Santiago-Romero filed a lawsuit last week after the clerk's office did not certify her election paperwork due to an outstanding late fee assessed against her for missing an October 2024 deadline for filing a quarterly campaign finance report with the Wayne County Clerk's Office, which handles campaign finance records. The Detroit clerk's office, in response, disqualified her from the ballot. But Santiago-Romero said she was certain she filed everything on time and provided evidence, such as confirmation receipts, to reporters and the court. Per a pending court order through the Wayne County Circuit Court, the incumbent District 6 council member will appear on the Aug. 5 primary ballot and the disputed late fee will be waived. Both the campaign and city clerk's office confirmed she will be on the ballot. The order is expected to be signed and finalized on May 6 by Wayne County Circuit Judge Patricia Perez Fresard. 'I'm relieved that the facts have been cleared up, and I'm qualified to be on the ballot,' Santiago-Romero said. 'Last week was truly a nightmare, and the hardest week I've ever had as a candidate. What kept me hopeful was the outpouring of support I received daily from our community — this fight was never about me, it was about us. I look forward to continuing to campaign to represent our district, and I'm grateful to both the Detroit city clerk and the Wayne County clerk for working with me to rectify this error.' Election 2025: Detroit mayoral, city candidates submit petitions to run for office Santiago-Romero said she received an emailed confirmation indicating that her Oct. 25, 2024, campaign finance report was filed on time. But the campaign mistakenly filed it as a "pre-general" election statement instead of a "quarterly" statement, and the county asked her to refile it on Nov. 11, 2024 — but not before hitting her campaign with a $250 late fee. The council member said she was unaware of any issues or fees when she filed her nominating petitions and signed her Affidavit of Identity with the city of Detroit on April 17, until her campaign received a letter from the city clerk indicating she was disqualified because of the late fee. Part of the language of the affidavit asks the petitioner to attest that they owe no past fees in order to be eligible to run. In the meantime, the campaign consistently attempted to reach the county clerk, providing several records indicating she turned in her paperwork on time, before filing the lawsuit. Dozens of supporters on April 25 stood behind Santiago-Romero at Clark Park in southwest Detroit, part of her district, as she demanded to be placed on the ballot, claiming she was wrongfully disqualified, and that she'd be forced to consider running as a write-in candidate if the court ruled against her. Sergio Martinez, 37, and Ed Gies, 63, were among the supporters who stood behind her. Martinez said Wayne County's handling of the issue was "unprofessional" at the time and should have been "clear, open and honest, and have provided their receipts" as the campaign has. "She shows up for us. She gets our issues. She was raised in the city. We've known her well before she even got into elected office, and I think that the people who are running against her, in general, don't get our community like she does. They don't show up even to campaign in this area," Martinez said. "We're here to get justice, to get on the ballot, and to make sure that democracy works as it should." Gies said that "with democracy being under threat," he was concerned that it could affect local politics. "Seeing our neighborhood champion ... not allowed to be on the ballot, it's really tragic," Gies said. Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@ Follow her: @DanaAfana. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gabriela Santiago-Romero to be on primary ballot for Detroit council
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Get involved: Monroe County school board seat open for nomination
One position on the Monroe County Intermediate School District Board of Education is open for nomination. According to a community announcement, the term for this seat runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2031. Board members are elected by representatives from the nine local public school districts. These representatives are appointed through a resolution by their respective districts, which also identifies the candidate they will support on the first ballot. The election is scheduled for June 2, at the Monroe County ISD. To apply for this position, individuals must be registered voters and residents of one of the MCISD's nine local school districts. According to Revised School Code 380.416, no more than two members of the intermediate school board can come from the same district. Currently, two members represent Monroe Public Schools, making residents of that district ineligible to apply. Interested candidates should obtain the necessary petitions from the Monroe County Clerk's Office. These petitions require signatures from at least 40 but no more than 100 registered voters within the MCISD's service area, which includes all Monroe County school districts. Candidates must submit the signed petitions or a $100 nonrefundable filing fee along with an Affidavit of Identity to the county clerk. Proof of identity is also required when filing for office. All candidates must reside in Monroe County. Payments can be made via cash, credit card or money order. More: Monroe County schools partner with organization to provide mental health services All application materials are available at the Monroe County Clerk's Office at 106 E. First St. in Monroe. Completed forms must be returned by 4 p.m. on Monday, May 5. For more information, please contact Stephen J. McNew, superintendent, at 734-322-2611. This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County Intermediate School District Board position open
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Detroit Council member files lawsuit against clerk, elections commission for ballot disqualification
Detroit City Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero has filed a lawsuit against the Detroit City Clerk's Office and the city's election commission for disqualifying her from the Aug. 5 primary ballot, asking the court to certify her candidacy so she can seek reelection to her District 6 seat. In the lawsuit, Santiago-Romero claims "wrongful disqualification," saying she provided the appropriate paperwork and signed an Affidavit of Identity with the City of Detroit on April 17 when she filed to run without being informed of any issues or outstanding fees. A part of the language of that affidavit requires the signee to attest that they owe no outstanding fines or fees. And there's the rub. The Wayne County Clerk's Office — which is where campaign finance reports are filed — claims that Santiago-Romero's campaign missed an October deadline for a quarterly campaign finance report and slapped her with a $250 late fee that still was outstanding at the time the councilwoman signed her affidavit, prompting the city to disqualify her from the ballot. 'It's a shame that we have to go this far, but we have the facts on our side and will take this to court," Santiago-Romero said in a statement Thursday. "We expect to win in court, and give voters the opportunity to decide who they want as their next city council member.' Mark Brewer, an attorney with Goodman Acker and the former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, is representing her in the lawsuit. Santiago-Romero has scheduled a news conference at 1 p.m. on April 25 at Clark Park to demand that she be placed on the primary ballot. More: Detroit City Council member claims Wayne County erred in reelection campaign filings More: Detroit mayoral, city candidates submit petitions to run for office in 2025 election Santiago-Romero said she received an emailed confirmation indicating her Oct. 25, 2024 campaign finance report was filed on time. But the campaign mistakenly filed it as a "pre-general" election statement instead of a "quarterly" statement, and the county asked her to refile it on Nov. 11, 2024. But after noticing the report did not appear on Wayne County's campaign finance system website, the campaign filed another copy on Nov. 8, 2024. The councilwoman said she received a "notice of failure to file" on Oct. 28, 2024, county records show. However, the lawsuit alleges the county clerk "failed to notify" the campaign of the Oct. 28, 2024 notice and Nov. 11, 2024 late filing notice by registered mail within four business days, which is required by state law. "These failures mean that those notices cannot be the basis for the $250 fine, which in turn cannot be the basis for a claim that Santiago-Romero's (Affidavit of Identity) was defective," according to the lawsuit. Michigan law requires candidates be current on all campaign finance statements, fines and other filings when running for office. Santiago-Romero on April 17 filed more than 600 petition signatures and an Affidavit of Identity with the Detroit City Clerk's Office, which did not inform her of an unpaid fine, leading her to believe she did not hold any fees or errors, according to the lawsuit. However, on April 21, the councilwoman received a letter from the city clerk's office notifying her that she had been disqualified due to the unpaid $250 fee, which was based on the duplicate Nov. 8, 2024 filing of the October 25, 2024 report. The lawsuit alleges the fee was erroneously assessed in the first place. She attempted to pay the $250 fee at the Wayne County Clerk's office on April 21, but they refused, according to the lawsuit. "This Court has found that candidates who dispute whether fees or fines are owed should not be disqualified from the ballot for allegedly filing a false (Affidavit of Identity)," adding that it will not harm the public if she appears on the ballot with other eligible candidates, according to the lawsuit. Santiago-Romero's lawsuit is not the first of this kind. Wayne County Commissioner Tim Killeen said he dealt with a similar issue in 2022 after the county clerk found that he had overdue campaign finance reports and determined he was not eligible for the ballot. The commissioner filed a lawsuit through the Wayne County Circuit Court, in which a judge ruled he did not violate campaign finance laws, allowing him to be on the ballot. 'The entire basis of the Wayne County Clerk Office's ballot disqualification was the $250 late fee,' Santiago-Romero said in a statement Wednesday. 'Our campaign has now released conclusive documentation demonstrating that the fee was mistakenly imposed. Detroiters deserve better, which makes the Clerk's inability to answer basic factual questions all the more disappointing.' Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@ Follow her: @DanaAfana. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gabriela Santiago-Romero sues Detroit city clerk, elections commission
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
When is Real ID deadline? What to know in Michigan
Michigan travelers must obtain a "Real ID" to fly or access federal sites in the U.S. this spring, with the deadline fast approaching. Real ID compliance is part of a larger act passed by Congress in 2005 to set 'minimum security standards' for the distribution of identification materials, including driver's licenses, USA TODAY reported. The law means certain federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security, won't be allowed to accept state-issued forms of identification that don't include a Real ID seal. U.S. residents have until May to update their driver's license or state ID card to be compliant. In Michigan, 73% of driver's license or ID holders have already upgraded to Real ID as of March 21, according to the Michigan Department of State. 'Michigan is well above the national average in compliance with the REAL ID standard. If your license or ID has the star, you are REAL ID ready,' said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a news release. 'We want to ensure Michiganders are aware of the approaching deadline and can take the steps needed to avoid possible inconvenience and delays. The Michigan Department of State is ready and available to help Michigan residents easily convert their driver's license to a REAL ID ahead of this deadline.' Here's what to know about the Real ID deadline and how you can ensure you can travel or enter federal buildings. The deadline to have a Real ID-compliant identification is May 7, 2025. Real ID is a driver's license or state ID card that is federally approved for travel security. Real ID will be required for domestic flights and access to federal facilities, military bases and nuclear power plants. More: Where can you fly with Spirit Airlines? New routes coming this spring for Michigan flyers The law does not require individuals to present identification where it is not currently required to access a federal facility (such as to enter the public areas of the Smithsonian) nor does it prohibit an agency from accepting other forms of identity documents (such as a U.S. passport or passport card). All state-issued identification will be accepted when voters are asked to show valid ID when voting. Regardless of whether a voter has a standard, enhanced or Real ID-compliant driver's license or ID card, the voter's card will be accepted as valid identification. Voters who do not have valid state-issued identification or another accepted identity document may sign an Affidavit of Identity, the Michigan Secretary of State said. No, a Real ID will not be required for jury duty, even if it's in a federal building, the Michigan Secretary of State said. No. TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification. No. Real ID cards cannot be used for border crossings into Canada, Mexico or other international travel. If you are traveling internationally you will still need your passport. If you are a lawfully present non-U.S. citizen, including permanent and nonpermanent residents, you are eligible to apply for a Real ID driver's license or ID card or turn your current Michigan driver's license or state ID into a Real ID, the Secretary of State said. No. Real ID is a national set of standards, the Department of Homeland Security said, not a national identification card. Real ID does not create a federal database of driver's license information. Each jurisdiction continues to issue its own licenses, maintains its own records, and controls who gets access to those records and under what circumstances. Michigan's Real ID recently got a redesign, though the old version remains valid. Initially, Real ID-compliant Michigan driver's licenses or state ID cards had an image of the Mackinac Bridge and a star in a gold circle in the upper right-hand corner. Under the new design, the upper right-hand corner of IDs feature a star in a gold map of the state of Michigan. The old design will be valid until the ID expires, with the state phasing the old design out by January 2029, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. All new IDs will be issued with the new Real ID-compliant design. If your ID is missing the star in the upper right-hand corner, it is not Real ID compliant and you'll need to update your identification in order to fly or access certain buildings. The license remains valid for driving in the U.S. You can update your ID by visiting your local Michigan Secretary of State branch office. You'll need to bring the following documents: Your current Michigan driver's license or ID. A valid, unexpired U.S. passport, birth certificate, or other proof of legal presence document. A certified legal name-change document, if your name is different from what is on your birth certificate. The Michigan Department of State offers the option to renew driver's licenses or state IDs by mail for those eligible. A Real ID will take weeks to arrive via mail, the Michigan Department of State says. If you're looking to renew your U.S. passport via mail, expect the process to take four to six weeks, the U.S. Department of State said, including multiple mailings, the number depending on the type of documentation requested. To update your driver's license or state ID card to Real ID while renewing or replacing your driver's license or state ID, there's no additional cost, the Secretary of State's Office said. More: Spring markets welcome the season to Michigan. Where to find arts, crafts, food If you choose to update your driver's license or state ID card to Real ID outside of your renewal or replacement, there is a $9 fee for a driver's license and a $10 fee for a state ID card, the Secretary of State's Office said. If you don't have a Real ID-compliant driver's license or state ID, you can carry other documents, including a U.S. passport or passport card. A full list of TSA acceptable documents is available online. USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to update your license ahead of Real ID deadline in Michigan
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Eaton County to hold a special election for county commissioner
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Eaton County will hold a special election to elect a new county commissioner for District 1 later this year, officials announced Wednesday. The new commissioner will replace former Eaton County District 1 Commissioner Tim Barnes, who resigned Jan. 14 due to personal reasons. The primary election will be held on Aug. 5, and the general election will be held on Nov. 4. The election comes after two votes held by the Board of Commissioners failed to select an appointee on Feb. 6, within 30 days of Barnes's resignation. As a result, the board will continue to have a 14-member body until a new commissioner is elected in November. If you are a resident of District 1 and are interested in running for the position, you have until 4 p.m. on April 22 to file Nominating Petitions and an Affidavit of Identity with the county clerk, whose office is located in Charlotte. All prospective candidates must meet signature requirements—a minimum of three and a maximum of ten. You can file a non-refundable $100 fee in lieu of filing a signature petition. A campaign finance Statement of Organization form is also required, and if you plan to spend more than $1,000 on a campaign, you will also need to obtain a copy of the Candidate Committee Campaign Statement Instructions & Forms booklet. For further guidance, you can refer to the under the 'Elections' tab or the . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
