Troy — This week, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Denise Langford Morris ruled that she will allow voters in Troy to decide who the city’s next mayor would be in an upcoming May election, after citizens had recalled their mayor on November 6th and city leaders had appointed a new mayor several weeks later, causing disputes between the City of Troy and the Secretary of State’s office.

“Democracy and the voters in Troy are the real winners today,” Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said in a press release Wednesday. “Voters are the ones who will be choosing the city’s next mayor. From the start, we’ve said that state law requires the election and now a judge has agreed. We now will work with city and county leaders to ensure the May election occurs in accordance with the judge’s ruling. I thank the Attorney General’s Office for representing my office in this case.”

Both the City of Troy and the Secretary of State were also sued Nov. 29 by political activist Robert Davis and Citizens United Against Corrupt Government. Judge Morris dismissed that case Wednesday, stating Davis did not have the authority to bring forth the lawsuit.

Judge Morris has ordered the Secretary of State’s office and the City of Troy to meet to prepare a new election timeline and report back to the court within five business days.