Poll: 47% say Mich. governor should remove Detroit mayor
/AP A new statewide poll has found 47 percent of respondents say Gov. Jennifer Granholm should remove Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office for misconduct related to a text-messaging sex scandal. The poll also found 84 percent of respondents said Kilpatrick should resign. Granholm is reviewing a request from Detroit City Council asking her to remove Kilpatrick, a fellow Democrat, from office. The mayor has said he won't resign as he fights criminal charges stemming from the scandal. Kilpatrick spokesman James Canning said the polling doesn't matter. "The only poll that matters is the one Detroiters take when they step into the voting booth on Election Day," Canning said in a statement. "All other polls taken prior to Election Day only serve as fodder for so-called pundits."
The poll for The Detroit News and TV stations WXYZ, WILX, WOOD and WJRT was released Wednesday. It found 40 percent said Granholm should leave Kilpatrick in office and let the legal system run its course, and 13 percent were undecided.
Earlier this month, the city council approved asking Granholm to remove Kilpatrick. State law allows the governor to remove an elected official for a number of reasons, including when an officeholder has been guilty of official misconduct.
Granholm told WWJ-AM on Thursday morning that her correct course of action is "not to be guided by surveys." She said an internal review continues and wants to ensure any action is taken "with respect to due process and law."
EPIC-MRA telephoned 600 likely voters May 19-22. The poll's margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points up or down.
Asked whether Kilpatrick should resign after being read a description of the scandal, 8 percent said he should remain in office and 8 percent were undecided. The poll was statewide, but only Detroit residents vote for the city's mayor.
Kilpatrick and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty face a Sept. 22 preliminary examination on perjury, misconduct in office and obstruction of justice charges.
They were charged March 24 by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. The charges stem from testimony during a whistle-blowers' trial when Kilpatrick and Beatty denied having a romantic relationship.
Kilpatrick and Beatty also are accused of lying under oath about their roles in the firing of a top police official.
The poll for The Detroit News and TV stations WXYZ, WILX, WOOD and WJRT was released Wednesday. It found 40 percent said Granholm should leave Kilpatrick in office and let the legal system run its course, and 13 percent were undecided.
Earlier this month, the city council approved asking Granholm to remove Kilpatrick. State law allows the governor to remove an elected official for a number of reasons, including when an officeholder has been guilty of official misconduct.
Granholm told WWJ-AM on Thursday morning that her correct course of action is "not to be guided by surveys." She said an internal review continues and wants to ensure any action is taken "with respect to due process and law."
EPIC-MRA telephoned 600 likely voters May 19-22. The poll's margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points up or down.
Asked whether Kilpatrick should resign after being read a description of the scandal, 8 percent said he should remain in office and 8 percent were undecided. The poll was statewide, but only Detroit residents vote for the city's mayor.
Kilpatrick and former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty face a Sept. 22 preliminary examination on perjury, misconduct in office and obstruction of justice charges.
They were charged March 24 by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. The charges stem from testimony during a whistle-blowers' trial when Kilpatrick and Beatty denied having a romantic relationship.
Kilpatrick and Beatty also are accused of lying under oath about their roles in the firing of a top police official.
