Mayor Dave Bing made a last-minute plea to Gov. Rick Snyder on Saturday to change his choice for the next emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, saying the appointment could create unrest among Detroiters.

During an hour-long meeting with Snyder, Bing and other community leaders urged the governor to reconsider appointing Kirk Lewis, who abruptly resigned from a top position in the mayor's office Friday, to avoid the appearance of a mayoral takeover of the struggling school system.

"This is not an intent to compromise his qualifications, but we realize that while Detroit Public Schools is an integral part of the city's success, it is also a very sensitive subject," mayoral spokeswoman Karen Dumas said. "We don't want to give any appearance of impropriety. We have worked hard to gain the trust of the citizens and feel this will compromise that."

Snyder had planned to hire Lewis and make a gradual transition from Robert Bobb, the current emergency financial manager whose contract expires in June, according to a source in the Snyder administration who is familiar with the situation. That plan, the source said, is now up in the air.

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