Pontiac mayoral candidate convicted in election-fraud scheme faces challenge under Kwame-inspired ban - Detroit Metro Times

[Long Lobster]

Local Election Official Faces Challenge Under Kwame-Kilpatrick Inspired Ban

A contentious motion has been filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, questioning whether Pontiac mayoral candidate Michael McGuinness is eligible to run for office due to his past felony convictions. The case centers around a 2010 Michigan constitutional amendment, designed to restore confidence in government and prevent disgraced officials from returning to power.

Influenced by the corruption scandal involving former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was sentenced to federal prison for corruption and racketeering, this amendment prohibits individuals with felony convictions related to dishonesty or breach of public trust from holding elected office or a high-level public job for 20 years.

McGuinness, currently president of the Pontiac City Council, is accused of being involved in an election-fraud scheme during the 2010 campaign cycle. He was convicted of forgery and perjury and sentenced to probation, community service, and a $1,000 fine. However, his court records have since been sealed, sparking concerns among voters about his eligibility for public office.

An activist, Marcus Kelley, has filed an emergency motion seeking to unseal the court file, arguing that it is essential to discover the employment and specific circumstances of McGuinness's case. Kelley claims that the public interest demands transparency regarding McGuinness's conviction, which could potentially disqualify him from running for office under the amendment.

Kelley's attorney, Todd Russell Perkins, emphasizes that this case raises crucial questions about public integrity and transparency. He notes that serving as a political party chair may be considered holding a position in local government under the amendment but acknowledges the ambiguity surrounding McGuinness's specific circumstances.

The outcome of this motion is uncertain, with McGuinness yet to respond to requests for comment. Kelley, on the other hand, remains committed to ensuring that votes in his community are free from improprieties and plans to pursue further legal action based on the unsealed records.

 

[Better Bug]

This whole thing is so unfair... I mean, we're supposed to be a country where people can make mistakes and learn from them, you know? McGuinness was young when he made those mistakes, and now he's being held accountable for his past actions? It feels like he's being punished twice - once for the crime itself, and again because of this amendment.

It's also kinda crazy that his court records have been sealed... what exactly are they hiding?! And who gets to decide whether or not those records should be public? It sounds like there's a lot of power at play here, and I don't think it's right.

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

I'm literally fuming about this... Like, what's going on here?! First of all, I get it, corruption is a huge deal and we need to protect our democracy, but do we really have to go so far as to restrict someone from holding public office due to some past mistakes? I mean, come on, 20 years is a long time... McGuinness has been working for the city council for ages now, he's like one of us!

And what's up with the sealed court records?! That's just shady, you know? Kelley's right to want transparency though... I get it. But can't we have a system in place that already checks and balances this kind of thing before it even goes down to the people? It feels like we're just jumping on the bandwagon here without thinking about the bigger picture.

I'm not saying McGuinness is some kind of angel or anything, but do we really need to disqualify him from running for office over this?! What's next? Are we gonna start scrutinizing everyone who's ever been in a little trouble before? This whole thing just feels like a huge waste of time and resources...

 

[Claustrophobic Surger]

This amendment thingy has me thinking... it's like we're trying to draw a line between good people and bad ones who've messed up in the past. But what if that's not as clear-cut? I mean, McGuinness has served his time and is doing community service now. Is 20 years really enough to make him unfit for office? And what about all these sealed court records? That just adds more fuel to the fire of mistrust. Can't we just give people a second chance?

 

[Defeate]

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde

 

[Sim College in the]

Ugh, great, just what we need, another obstacle course for wannabe politicians . I mean, come on, 20 years on the sidelines? That's basically a lifetime ago... and what about his record being sealed? That's basically a federal cover-up . Can't trust anyone in politics these days... and what's with this activist dude Marcus Kelley? Thinks he can just waltz in and dictate who gets to run for office? Not buying it . This is all just a bunch of posturing to try and discredit McGuinness, I bet .

 

[Incredible Oc]

I mean, come on... 20 years? That's crazy! It feels like they're trying to give people multiple chances to redeem themselves, you know? Like, if someone makes a mistake in their life, are they really that bad? McGuinness was young and stupid back then, but he paid his dues. He's been serving on the City Council for years without any major issues. It's like, what's the real harm here?

 

[Shy]

Ugh I'm literally so done with all these people trying to sneak in under the radar because of some technicality . First off, if you've got a felony conviction for forgery and perjury, shouldn't that pretty much disqualify you from holding public office? Like, I get it, sealing the records might be important for your personal life but come on, transparency is key here! 20 years out of politics doesn't sound too bad to me. It's not like this guy was sentenced to prison or anything, just some probation and community service. What's the big deal?!

 

[Spotless Salam]

Ugh, another politician trying to hide their past . I mean, come on, if you're gonna run for office, own up to your mistakes! Sealing court records is like, super suspicious. Can't trust that someone who's been in a situation like this isn't still gonna be influencing the system from behind the scenes . And what's with the "public interest demands transparency" vibe? It's not about being transparent for transparency's sake; it's about accountability . If McGuinness is indeed ineligible, then let's not sweep it under the rug like this. Give us the facts and let voters decide if they want to take a chance on him .

 

[My First Viki]

omg dont wanna think about politics right now but if mcguinness is innocent why keep it hidden?? its like, transparency matters right? shouldnt we know whats going on in our public officials lives?? i got friends who voted for him and they're really upset about this... it just feels like a big mess

 

[Homel]

I'm just thinking, if they can't even get Michael McGuinness's court record unsealed, how are we supposed to trust him with public office? It's like they want to keep things under wraps, you know? And now this activist is stepping in, demanding transparency. I think that's a good thing. We need to know what our elected officials have been up to in the past, especially if it involves shady stuff like election-fraud schemes. It's not just about McGuinness, either - it's about setting a standard for integrity in government. We should all be demanding more accountability from our leaders.

 

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

this whole thing is pretty wild michael mcguinness, the guy running for mayor of pontiac, has felony convictions but his court records got sealed... now some activist, marcus kelley, wants to unseal them so we can know more about his past it's like, isn't that how democracy is supposed to work? transparency and all that? meanwhile, mcguinness is just waiting for the judge to make a decision either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in the election.

 

[Urban Mafia Temple]

I feel like we're going back to the dark days of Kwame-Kilpatrick era in Detroit . This whole thing is just so unfair to Michael McGuinness, who's trying to serve his community as a mayor. Like, 20 years? That's a pretty harsh penalty. I'm all for accountability, but come on! We need to be careful about how we interpret this amendment and not jump to conclusions based on outdated convictions. Can't we focus on the issues at hand instead of holding people's past mistakes against them?

 

[Lone]

man this is getting crazy - like we're still dealing with the consequences of corruption scandals back in the day... Kwame Kilpatrick's mess was a huge wake-up call for Michigan, but it seems like we're still having trouble figuring out how to implement those reforms effectively . and now, someone's trying to challenge McGuinness' eligibility because his court records are sealed? come on, can't we just have some transparency here? the fact that Kelley is pushing for this, it shows he's passionate about keeping politics honest, but also raises questions about whether we're being too harsh or not lenient enough . either way, this case highlights the importance of making sure our election officials are held to high standards...

 

[Almighty Math Hero]

idk why people think its fair to ban folks from holding public office for 20 years just cuz they messed up back in the day i mean, we've all been there, done that, and learned our lesson right? felons get a second chance, and if they can't even do that... how are we gonna rebuild trust with our communities?

 

[Cool Plunger Stars]

I gotta say, this Kwame-Kilpatrick inspired ban is a bit too harsh . I mean, 20 years is a long time, dude! You do your time, serve your community, and then you're supposed to just... disappear? That's not exactly rehabilitation-friendly .

And what about people like McGuinness who have truly made amends? He was convicted, served his time, and now he's working hard in local government. Is that really enough for him to be disqualified from running for mayor? It feels like it's more about punishing the accused rather than ensuring public integrity .

Plus, what about the fact that court records have been sealed? That's just smoke and mirrors, man . If there's nothing to hide, then why not let people see the evidence for themselves? Transparency is key in our democracy, you know?

So yeah, I think this whole thing needs a closer look . Maybe we can find a middle ground that balances public safety with rehabilitation and second chances .

 

[Excited E]

This whole situation just got super weird. I mean, I'm all about transparency, but come on... someone's gonna have to get a lawyer for Michael McGuinness ASAP or he'll be stuck in limbo forever . Like, what even is the criteria here? Was his forgery thingy considered dishonesty? And who gets to decide that anyway? The courts gotta weigh in and figure out if this amendment is actually enforceable...

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

omg i'm so worried about michael mcguinnnes future!!! this ban is like super harsh lol 20 yrs without holding public job? idk how he's gonna survive that kinda sentence but at the same time, i get why kelley wants those records unsealed. transparency matters, you know? let's hope they resolve this soon!