Detroit ? In the wake of a decisive Nov. 7 vote to prohibit race- and gender-based preferences in employment, education and contracting, leaders in government and academia who fought to preserve affirmative action are now hurrying to assess the impact. Officials said the response is likely to start with a court challenge.

Business and civic leaders who opposed the anti-affirmative-action measure are gathering here on Friday to develop a strategy. The University of Michigan Board of Regents is also meeting, with announcements expected soon. At City Hall, Democratic Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is drafting an ordinance that would favor companies based in the city, which is more than 80 percent African American.

“The voters went to the polls and Proposition 2 passed, and we have to live with it now,” said Matt Allen, the mayor’s spokesman. “As of December 22, there can be no more gender or race preferences.”

The first attempt to block the new law in court was filed soon after the election, although courts have upheld a similar California law.

Supporters of Proposal 2 are ecstatic at the showing at the polls, where 58 percent of voters backed the new law.

Michiganders who voted to end affirmative action in the public sphere – private entities, both companies and universities, are not bound by the new law – said it is unfair to give extra credit to people based on sex or race. Analysts believe Proposal 2 benefited from the impression that whites are losing out and from economic insecurity in a state where unemployment is 6.9 percent.

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her Republican opponent, businessman Dick DeVos, opposed Proposal 2.