LIVONIA, Mich. – What an end it was for a congressman who was assumed by both parties to be in a safe seat with no fear of a real challenge.
Thaddeus McCotter was knocked out of contention for his congressional district seat because his staffers submitted bogus signatures required to get his name on the ballot.
McCotter could not take it and not only decided not to fight for his seat but resigned before his term ended. That is the trigger for next week's special election.
Voters in Michigan's 11th Congressional District will have to go to the polls to elect a person to serve the remainder of McCotter's term, which is about three weeks. That means the taxpayers will have to shell out $230,000 each week.
Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard thinks it is absurd.
"I'm worried local governments are going to have to cut police and fire to pay for this stupid special election," Bullard said.
The clerk and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners do not question the legal necessity of the special election but say the state of Michigan should be paying.
"If the state pays for the presidential primary, they should pay for the special election on Sept. 5.," Bullard said.