Anti-Gay Troy Michigan Mayor Daniels Faces Recall A Little More Than Three Months Into Term

Barely 90 days into office, embattled Troy, Michigan Mayor Janice Daniels could soon face a recall. The Detroit Free Press reports that an entity called Recall Janice Daniels filed two petitions Monday with the Oakland County Clerk's Office. Daniels was called a "dangerous, polarizing ideologue" on its website, www.recalljanice.com. Matthew Binkowski of Troy sponsored the petitions. "We believe that the citizens of Troy must take our city back," according to the website. One petition challenges her vote against millions of dollars in federal funding to build a transit center near the Troy/Birmingham border. The other challenges her views on homosexuality, her behaviour during her swearing-in, and a possible breach of City Council meeting rules. When she was sworn into office in November, Daniels changed the oath, eschewing a part that pledges allegiance to the city's charter. She called the charter a "whimsical" document, changed at the will of the council. About a month later, reports surfaced that before she decided to run for office, she posted a Facebook status update ridiculing gays. At a council meeting in February, Daniels read a five-page document outlining her concerns about the transit center, surpassing council meeting rules that prohibit members from addressing a topic for more than five minutes. Members of Recall Janice Daniels refused interview requests until the petitions have been accepted or rejected by the Oakland County Election Commission at a March 1 meeting. Daniels said she wouldn't comment on the recall petitions. If approved, the petition's supporters have 180 days to submit 7,985 signatures, which need to be gathered within any 90-day period within the 180 days. The recall petitions come on the heels of a letter sent to Daniels by County Executive L. Brooks Patterson in defense of Troy City Manager John Szerlag. Daniels chided Szerlag at a January 9 council meeting, saying he failed to provide accurate costs, and for staffers opening mail addressed to her. "I have no confidence in our city manager's ability to continue to perform the duties granted him in this position," she said during the meeting. Szerlag told the Free Press he was surprised at the public accusations and fired back in a multi-page response, saying Daniels had damaged his reputation. He called several statements by Daniels false. Patterson praised Szerlag's performance and reputation. He said he was compelled to respond to Daniels' claims, despite not wanting to get involved in city politics. "John stands out as simply one of the best," Patterson wrote. "A dispute between two individuals does not render one of them suddenly incompetent to perform their duties." Daniels said she has requested a meeting with Patterson. The Oakland County Election Commission will meet at 1:30 pm March 1 to consider petition language submitted against Troy Mayor Janice Daniels. The meeting will be in the courtroom of Chief Probate Judge Linda Hallmark at the Oakland County Courthouse, 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac.