TRAVERSE CITY — The Michigan Secretary of State's office agrees with a downstate activist's contention that Traverse City should change ballot language for an upcoming election.
But City Attorney Karrie Zeits, who drafted the language, believes it shouldn't be changed. She's asked the Secretary of State to review the city's charter, and a final decision could come next week.
Gary Glenn, president of Midland-based American Family Association of Michigan, said the city improperly worded ballot language for a Nov. 8 referendum election on an ordinance that protects gays from discrimination.
The ballot language asks residents to vote "yes" if they want to reject the ordinance, so they'd vote "no" if they support the ordinance. Glenn said voters should be asked to vote "yes" if they support the ordinance, based on state election law.
But Zeits believes the language must be worded the way it is, largely because the ordinance already went into effect.
"The only way to take it off the books is to repeal the ordinance," she said.
The non-discrimination ordinance, adopted by city commissioners in October, prevents discrimination against gays in employment, housing and other areas.
City officials drafted the ordinance to "close the gap" in existing civil rights laws. Federal and state laws prevent discrimination based on religion, race and a host of other criteria, but sexual orientation isn't covered. The city's non-discrimination ordinance includes criteria already protected by other laws.
A group led by local residents Paul Nepote, Matt Schoech and Michael Mulcahy turned in enough signatures to force a referendum election.
