Opponent Fails to Get Trans Candidate Tossed Off Ballot

A judge dismissed a lawsuit Monday that had claimed a transgender city councilwoman tried to fool voters by running as a female, and the candidate was set to seek reelection Tuesday. The ruling cleared the way for a runoff to include Michelle Bruce, who is running for her second term on the city council in the Atlanta suburb of Riverdale. ''It was a waste of taxpayers' money and the court's time for a frivolous lawsuit,'' said Bruce, 46. ''They're trying to derail the wish of the voters.''

A judge dismissed a lawsuit Monday that had claimed a transgender city councilwoman tried to fool voters by running as a female, and the candidate was set to seek reelection Tuesday.

The ruling cleared the way for a runoff to include Michelle Bruce, who is running for her second term on the city council in the Atlanta suburb of Riverdale.

''It was a waste of taxpayers' money and the court's time for a frivolous lawsuit,'' said Bruce, 46. ''They're trying to derail the wish of the voters.''

City attorney Deana Johnson said the decision means the runoff slated for Tuesday will be held as scheduled, barring a ruling otherwise from the Georgia supreme court.

Bruce landed one of Riverdale's four council seats in 2003 after running unopposed. She was believed to be the state's first transgender politician. She has declined to say whether she had surgery to change her sex.

Bruce captured 312 votes in the November 6 election, not enough to avoid a runoff against Wayne Hall, who earned 202 votes. Third-place finisher Georgia Fuller, who collected 171 votes, filed the lawsuit.

The complaint, identifying Bruce as ''Michael Bruce,'' claimed she misled voters by identifying herself as a female and asked a judge to rule the votes invalid and order another general election.

Fuller and her attorney, Mike King, did not respond to phone calls Monday.

King has said Bruce's female name gave her an ''unfair advantage'' because the town's voters tend to vote for women -- particularly incumbent women. (Greg Bluestein, AP)

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