Lawsuit To Remove Clerk Spanger Moving Forward

MACOMB COUNTY, MI. — Legal challenges for embattled Macomb County Clerk Karen Spranger appear to be coming to a head this week, according to multiple media reports.

On Monday, a St. Clair County judge ruled that a lawsuit seeking to oust her from office based on an allegation that she lied about her residency on an election affidavit could move forward, the Detroit Free Press reported. The same court also issued a temporary restraining order against Spranger to stop her from harassing employees and also to fill numerous positions left vacant after a wave of firings by her, the Macomb Daily reported.

In addition, Spanger will go in front of Macomb County Commissioners this week to answer questions about her budget, the vacant positions and other issues with the clerk’s office. The end result could be a vote by commissioners to remove her from office via a seldom used state law, the Macomb Daily reported.

The lawsuit about Spranger’s alleged lying on the affidavit was filed late last summer by county officials. Macomb County Attorney John Schapka told the Detroit Free Press that the Warren home she claimed to reside at was uninhabitable due to a lack of utilities at the property. She will appear in Macomb County Circuit Court seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed.

The restraining order against Spranger is the second issued this month. St. Clair County Circuit Court Daniel Kelly ordered her to fill vacant positions, not harass or impede employees and allow several people to return to work who have been on administrative leave.

The lack of manpower has led to problems in the clerk’s office. More than 3,000 electronic filings have gone unprocessed at the circuit court since late October, the Macomb Daily reported. The county is also behind in LEIN entries, the newspaper reported.

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