Recall petition started on Detroit mayor

DETROIT, May 19 (UPI) -- An effort is under way in Detroit to gather some 57,000 signatures on petitions calling for an election to recall Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Experts say the petition drive led by Angelo Brown has little chance of succeeding since it lacks both organized backing and sufficient funding, The Detroit News reported Monday.

Brown, a 45-year-old security guard, has 180 days to gather enough signatures on petitions but each name is valid for only 90 days, the newspaper says. Brown says he may soon align with some "named groups" that will help him circulate petitions., the newspaper report said.

Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, are facing charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury and official misconduct in a case related to a police whistle-blower trial in 2007.

His attorney, Alan Canady, told the News there are no grounds for a recall and the criminal justice process needs to be allowed to run its course.