Breaking news … Former councilmember prevails in mayoral election

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck has a new mayor, and he’s no stranger to voters.
Former city councilmember Muhith Mahmood is now in the mayor’s seat following the tabulation of 37 uncounted ballots from last year’s November election.
The ballots were tabulated in a three-hour meeting by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Friday.
The ballots in question were found a day after the November election by employees in the Hamtramck City Clerk’s office, and they were immediately taken to Wayne County election officials.
But the Board of Canvassers declined to count those ballots, which set off an eight-month legal battle. Mahmood argued in favor of counting the ballots, while Mayor Adam Alharbi was opposed.
This long saga is not over yet.
Alharbi and his attorney, Nabih Ayad, have vowed to challenge those 37 ballots.
“This dance is not over,” Ayad told reporters after the new election results were announced.
Mahmood won’t officially become the mayor until the Board of Canvassers certify the results on Nov. 4, and then sworn into office.
So, in the meantime, “We don’t have a mayor,” said City Attorney Odey Meroueh. “I’ve already cut off access for Adam.”
That means City Councilmember Abu Musa is now the acting mayor since he is next in line as mayor pro tem.
Mahmood might be facing more legal challenges.
Ayad said that the Attorney General’s office is considering whether to bring criminal charges against a person he declined to name.
“You can probably guess who,” Ayad told the press.
Mahmood told The Review that Ayad is likely referring to him.
Alharbi insists that Mahmood is not a resident of the city, although he has struck out so far in court to have Mahmood disqualified.
Mahmood has denied the charge, saying that although his wife and family live in Troy, he lives in Hamtramck, in an apartment on Holbrook.
As for being named the winner of the election, Mahmood said, simply, “I’m elated.”
Alharbi conceded that the election result with the newly counted ballots was expected.
“It’s not a surprise,” he said.
The ballots came from a precinct that is populated by mostly immigrants from Bangladesh. Mahmood is also from Bangladesh.
Alharbi insists that the 37 ballots are “not trusted” because of past accusations of ballots harvesting, and manipulations of ballots.
While there have been investigations into election fraud, none of the accusations have held up in court.
Alharbi has fought against counting the ballots, claiming that since they were discovered a day after the November election, they should not be included in the final count because they lost their “chain of custody.”
But Mahmood prevailed after a number of court hearings and finally won his case.
As it turned out, Mahmood toppled Alharbi by 12 votes, winning 2,089 votes compared to Alharbi’s 2,077 votes.
Alharbi initially won the November election by 11 votes.
After the new results were announced, a loud cheer rang out from Mahmood’s supporters who were packed in a meeting room where the ballots were counted.
It took the county a pain-staking three hours to get through the process in a room that turned hot and sweaty, and thick with tension in the air. The county repeatedly cautioned those in attendance to keep their emotions in check and be courteous to others while speaking.
Mahmood stressed that his quest to have the 37 ballots counted was not about him becoming the mayor, but to uphold “voters’ rights.”
He called for Alharbi to now “move forward.”
Posted Oct. 16, 2026