McGinnis to be Sworn In as Acting Mayor of Troy

Troy Mayor Janice Daniels, who was recalled Tuesday by a 52 percent majority of Troy voters, is still technically the mayor of Troy until the Oakland County Board of Canvassers certifies Tuesday's election results.

“We’re hoping it happens very quickly, but we can’t say for sure," Troy City Attorney Lori Grigg Bluhm said Wednesday. "We hope it happens today to provide some finality for the city, but it could be tomorrow, or within a week."

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Troy City Clerk Aileen Bittner said the Oakland County Board of Canvassers is set to convene Wednesday at 1 p.m. to begin certifying election results for the county's numerous municipalities, including Troy. If requested, additional information or documentation will be provided to the board at that time.

“Once the date and time stamp is on the election results, it’s official and the mayor is no longer in office," Bittner said.

In a Wednesday morning radio interview, Daniels admitted defeat, saying: "I’m no longer the mayor, as of today. I’m off, I’m done."

McGinnis as acting Mayor of Troy

Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis, who was nominated by council last November to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for one year, will be sworn in as acting mayor of Troy as soon as possible once the election results are certified.

"We will ask her to stop in as soon as she can, and she would likely be sworn in at the clerk's office," Bittner said.

However, McGinnis' tenure as acting Mayor of Troy will likely be very brief, as Troy City Council is set to designate a new Mayor Pro Tem and acting Troy Mayor at Monday's Troy City Council meeting.

“Dane Slater is the next person, according to the current council rules," Bluhm said. "He’d be acting mayor.”

Slater likely to take over on Monday

According to the City Charter, council designates a new Mayor Pro Tem each year in November, with Councilman Dane Slater slated to serve next. Unless Troy City Council votes to amend is Rules of Procedure, which are up for annual review on Monday, Slater will take over as Mayor Pro Tem and be sworn in as acting Mayor of Troy during Monday's meeting.

"Then, they have up to 30 days to fill the vacant position, and that’s by appointment, by majority vote," Bluhm said.

She added that if a council member were interested in serving as mayor until the November 2013 election, and is appointed by a council majority vote, he or she must then give up his or her seat on council. In that instance, council would appoint a replacement council member to serve until the November 2013 election.

“I think it’s very unusual what’s happened here in Troy," Bluhm said. "It’s caused us to assess the charter, and unfortunately, it was a complicated analysis because it was so unusual."

In September, city administrators released a detailed procedure to follow if the mayor were to be recalled. According to the memo, council has until Dec. 11 to appoint a mayor, who will serve until the Nov. 5, 2013 regular city election, when a new mayor will be elected.

On Nov. 11, 2013, the new mayor and council members will be sworn into office.