State Board of Canvasser’s Vote “No”

A move that would have asked Michigan voters to made a decision this November on  the sweeping emergency managers law failed Thursday, as an elections board split along party lines when deciding whether to put the measure on the ballot.   The State Board of Canvassers’ voted 2-2 which means the measure won’t be on the ballot and the seven managers already appointed to three public school districts and four cities will keep so-called “superpowers” that allow them to dismiss elected leaders and cancel union contracts to help balance budgets.  While the group submitting the repeal had the required number of signatures,  the board couldn’t agree on the validity of a challenge to the measure from a group that said the petitions weren’t legal because the heading was printed in a smaller type size than required.  Supporters say they plan to take the matter to court.  Appointed, emergency managers are in place in Detroit, Highland Park and Muskegon Heights public schools, and the cities of Benton Harbor, Flint, Pontiac and Ecorse.