Detroit mayor ouster sought

DETROIT, May 9 (UPI) -- A Michigan lawmaker has asked Gov. Jennifer Granholm to remove Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office because of a scandal involving a mayoral aide.

State Rep. David Law, a Republican from Commerce Township, told the governor Kilpatrick's refusal to resign hurts the state's largest city and the Metro region.

The city of Detroit "is crumbling," he said, because of a lack of public trust, the Detroit News reported.

The Detroit City Council met Tuesday to discuss ousting Kilpatrick but did not announce a final decision.

Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. said after the meeting that asking Granholm to remove the mayor was probably the best course for the city, and would avoid a long and expensive court case.

A confidential report to the council by its attorney, Bill Goodman, concluded that a settlement of a lawsuit by former police officers was designed to hide Kilpatrick's affair with his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, and the role both played in firing police officers.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International