Breaking news … Hamtramck taxpayers on the hook for mayor’s legal fees
Updated on July 30, 2026
By Charles Sercombe
Mayor Adam Alharbi is getting financial help in his lawsuit to prevent 38 uncounted absentee ballots from last November’s election from ever being counted.
And that help will come from Hamtramck taxpayers, who will be footing his legal fees of $200,000 and up to make sure those ballots are not counted.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Councilmembers Abu Musa and Yousuf Saed voted to approve having the city pay for Alharbi’s legal expenses.
Those were the only two members of the council to approve the resolution. Councilmember Mohammed Hassan voted against the matter while Councilmembers Nayeem Choudhury and Muhtasin Sadman abstained from voting.
Councilmember Mohammed Alsomiri had already left the meeting before the vote was taken.
With two votes for, only one against, two abstentions and an absent member, the two “yes” votes constituted a majority, and the resolution passed.
The vote on the matter was not live-streamed after the council came back in open session after a closed session.
City Clerk Sami Elhady said it was his decision to not continue broadcasting the council meeting after the closed meeting.
Asked why he did not continue the broadcast, Elhady told The Review “Nobody told me” to continue it.
He said it has been his assumption to not continue broadcasting open meetings after the council comes back from a closed meeting to continue city business. He said his only instruction was to “open the doors” to the council chambers.
In the past, before Elhady came on the job a few months ago, all council meetings that resumed after a closed session were broadcast.
Elhady was hired at the mayor’s insistence despite having no prior experience as a city clerk.
The council’s decision to pay for the mayor’s legal fees now opens the door for former councilmember Muhith Mahmood to demand the city pay for his legal fees to have the ballots counted as well.
Mahmood told The Review that he is now considering whether to demand the city pay for his mounting legal fees in the matter, but he is hesitant.
“I’m spending a lot of money,” Mahmood said. “But they are playing with the public’s money. I don’t have any intentions to take the public’s money.”
A lot is at stake in whether the ballots are counted or not, as they could result in Mahmood winning the mayoral election from back in November. If the election is upended, it would mean Alharbi would no longer be the city’s mayor.
A state court of appeals ruling cleared the way for the ballots to be counted. Mayor Alharbi has been attempting to get the state supreme court to overturn that decision.
The supreme court has, so far, declined to hear his appeal. Alharbi has asked the court to reconsider its decision.
Mayor Alharbi justified the city paying for legal fees saying:
“The entire issue with those 37 uncounted ballots stemmed from an internal error by the city clerk’s office at the time — not from any candidate or elected official.
“Under standard municipal protocol, cities protect and defend their officials when they are forced to deal with legal challenges born entirely out of city administrative failures. When a procedural mistake happens at the municipal level, it is the city’s operational and legal responsibility to resolve it.
“The council is simply ensuring the proper legal steps are taken to clear up an issue the city itself created.”
As for Mahmood being compensated for his legal fees, Alharbi said that depends on Mahmood.
“As of right now, this resolution specifically addresses the legal matter regarding the 37 ballots and the mayor’s office, reflecting the city’s standard obligation to protect its officials from internal administrative errors,” Alharbi told The Review.
“Any other individual’s legal situation is a separate matter for them and the council to evaluate independently based on their own circumstances.”
Alharbi has recently complained about increasing legal fees the city is paying, and sought to seek bids for new legal services. That request was denied by the council.
City Attorney Odey Meroueh told the council that legal fees are increasing because of past decisions by the council that resulted in numerous lawsuits.
In other breaking news, according to sources, state officials are insisting on taking over Hamtramck’s election next Tuesday because of Elhady’s inexperience.
Also, federal officials with the Department of Justice are sending monitors to Hamtramck for Tuesday’s election.
Posted July 30, 2026
Hamtramck RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER!!!
Over the past year, we’ve seen too many lawsuits and too much political fighting. Now, taxpayers are being asked to pay the mayor’s legal fees, which our hard-earned tax dollars should NOT fund.
Regardless of political views, City Hall should focus on keeping our neighborhoods SAFE, IMPROVING city services, REPAIRING our roads and sidewalks, investing in neighborhood IMPROVEMENTS, maintaining parks, responding to residents’ concerns, creating sustainable local businesses, encouraging responsible growth, and ensuring EVERY TAX DOLLAR IS SPENT WISELY.
It’s time to END the drama and return to the work that truly matters: repairing aging infrastructure, addressing flooding and drainage issues, making meaningful neighborhood improvements, enhancing public safety, keeping neighborhoods clean, strengthening code enforcement, investing in our parks and recreation programs, supporting our police, firefighters, and city employees, attracting new businesses and jobs, and making Hamtramck a city where families, and small business owners can THRIVE, and stay focused on IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE for everyone who calls Hamtramck home!
As a tax payer I honestly disagree to pay the money for law suits expenses. We didn’t pay tax for anyone’s personal interest. We pay taxes to improve our services.
Unbelievable! The circus continues with the clowns taking the citizens for an expensive ride! I hope there is a way to appeal the decision and make the “mayor” pay for his own stupid games. Let’s recall them all and start over from scratch. None of know what the hell they’re doing!
Choudry and Sadman..two cowards. If the Mayor chose to file the lawsuit, then he should get his check book out! And WHY is the clerk waiting for someone to “…tell me” (tell him)???? This is an employee whom the Mayor VIOLATED CHARTER by insisting he be hired!!! Seems to me NO ONE knows their job description, the charter or Robert’s Rules. AND these are your choices, voters and cheaters of Hamtramck!!!