Ex-Warren mayor Jim Fouts has had his last-ditch appeal to contest the November mayoral election results turned down flat by a federal appeals court. According to The Detroit News, Fouts, who was seeking to overturn a voter-approved term limit, was blocked once again as the court upheld an earlier ruling dismissing his lawsuit.
The legal battles began when Fouts unsuccessfully tried to have the August primary results decertified and to ensure his name was put on the ballot for a rerun. His argument that his civil rights were violated when he was barred from running for a fifth term due to term limits imposed by Warren voters was shot down by both the U.S. District Judge and the 6th Circuit Court. "There is no fundamental right to run for office and the city of 'Warren has a rational basis for imposing term limits for the office of mayor," said U.S. District Judge George Steeh, a point that the appeals court agreed to strongly stand by.
The Macomb Daily reports Fouts felt the term limit amendment was retroactively applied to him, aiming to make sure he wouldn't be eligible for a fifth term. Fouts expressed his disappointment with the court's decision, stating, "I agree with the court that no individual has the right to hold an office, but I strongly believe anyone has the right to run for an office."
Last year's City Council proposed a charter revision committee to clarify the language in the city's charter, acknowledging the confusion and ambiguity stemming from amendments over the years. However, these efforts did not aid Fouts in his legal quest. "None of these courts have allowed oral arguments except for the Macomb County Circuit Court, and I think oral arguments would have helped to clarify there is no language stating specifically that the 12-year mayoral term limit is retroactive," said Fouts in a comment obtained by Macomb Daily.
Ultimately, former State Rep. Lori Stone emerged victorious in the November election, making history as Warren's first woman mayor. With the court saga concluding, Fouts has no immediate plans to re-enter the political scene but hasn't ruled out the possibility. The appeal's failure comes amidst the buildup to a special state House election, necessitated by Stone's resignation to take up the mayoral office, as reported by Michigan Advance.
