Macomb County Says Spranger Lied About Her Residency

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — Macomb County officials are seeking to oust County Clerk Karen Spranger, saying that she lied about her principal residence on an election affidavit. Spranger claimed to live in Warren at the time she filed to run for the position, but the county contends she didn’t and has utility records to prove it.

Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Viviano is slated to hear arguments on Aug. 14. Spranger was a surprise winner in last November’s election and her tenure, which began in January, has been marred by controversy.

The county filed a motion Tuesday asking the court to decide Spranger’s legal residence at the time her April 2016 election affidavit was filed, the Detroit News reported. Macomb County officials said the Warren home, which sits on Hudson Avenue, has been uninhabitable since 2012 due a lack of utilities.

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Macomb County Corporation Counsel John Schapka told the Detroit News the issue of whether Spranger is legally entitled to hold office based on her residency has become a distraction for the county. He said officials want the matter decided one way or another.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel told the Detroit Free Press the issue isn’t personal. He believes her principal residence was actually in Clinton Township when she field to run for clerk.

But Spranger’s attorney Frank Cusumano believes it is and said his client did, in fact, live in Warren at the time she filed to run for office. Whatever the judge decides, Cusumano said Spranger was a county resident at the time she filed to run — and that should be enough to keep her in office.