In Our Opinion … Get ready for another bumpy election ride

Brace yourselves, folks.
A Wayne County Circuit Court judge is now ordering the Wayne County Board of Canvassers to count the 37 uncounted ballots from last November’s city election.
At stake here is the possibility that Mayor Adam Alharbi will be removed from office and his challenger, former city councilmember Muhith Mahmood, will replace him.
This saga has been playing out since last year, when November’s election results were tallied.
Mayor Alharbi has been in office all of eight months.
No matter what, it’s frustrating that our judicial process carried on this long. It’s unfair both to the mayor and to Mr. Mahmood.
And, of course, it’s deeply unfair to the residents of the city, as well.
What we find interesting in all this is why these two political combatants have fought so hard, and spent so much money, on this matter. Alharbi hired a lawyer to prevent the ballots from being counted, while, obviously, Mahmood spent money for his own legal fight.
Alharbi’s legal bill, which could be as much as $200,000, is now being paid by the taxpayers, thanks to a controversial vote by the city council.
So, consider again the massive amount of money being poured into this legal dispute, and then answer (if you can):Why would anyone rack up legal bills like that, all to just get to be the mayor of Hamtramck – a position that pays a nominal several thousand dollars per year?
Think about that.
And then, if you come up with an answer, please let us know.
Posted Oct. 9, 2026