He didn’t hire the renamed ACORN or SEIU to gather signatures
Via Detroit FREEP
Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett now says she does not believe U.S. Rep. John Conyers has enough valid signatures to qualify for the Aug. 5 primary ballot.
She confirmed this afternoon that she received a letter from Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey Wednesday night saying that the date that two people who collected signatures for the Conyers campaign were legally registered to vote had been changed from Dec. 13, 2013, to April 28, 2014.
“With that being said and with the dates being changed from Ms. Winfrey’s office, it says at this time that the congressman would not have enough signatures,” Garrett said. She added that the final determination should come before May 7, after an investigation has been completed.
Conyers’ attorney John Pirich said when questions began to arise about the two petition ciruclators, they received voter registration forms dated Dec. 13, 2013. And they’re prepared to provide evidence to Wayne County and the Secretary of State to prove that status.
“It must be made clear that any registration deficiency is not the fault of the individuals; the fault lies with the Detroit City Clerk’s office and their compliance with the law,” Pirich said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
The matter isn’t over, Pirich added, saying they also are trying to review the 800 signatures that were ruled invalid to see if they can be “rehabilitated,” before Garrett makes a final determination on Wednesday.
“I am confident that at the end of these proceedings Congressman Conyers will be certified and on the primary election ballot in August,” Pirich said.
Garrett said it wasn’t clear why the dates of voter registration were changed, and she referred questions about it to Winfrey, who wasn’t immediately available for comment this afternoon. Garrett said her office isn’t involved in deciding matters about qualified voter lists.