In Our Opinion … Hamtramck: It’s time to move on

Hamtramck has a new mayor.
And what a strange, twisting tale it’s been.
By now, the news has spread around town about the ongoing legal battle over whether to count 37 uncounted ballots from last year’s November election, and whether the winner of that election, Muhith Mahmood, is an actual resident of the city and thus qualified to serve in elective office here.
Mahmood has won in court decisively on all these matters. 
Yes, it’s outrageous that we had to wait a full year to determine Mahmood’s status, but that’s how it goes under our legal system. There’s often not much we can do to speed up the wheels of justice.
But what we can do now is move on and put this behind us. This election will become a historical footnote – an oddity in Hamtramck’s 100-year plus history.
The courts have spoken, so let’s stop the legal maneuvering – and we’re talking to you, Mr. Alharbi. 
This ongoing battle is not doing the city any favors, and we can imagine it’s turned off a number of would-be investors from doing business with the city.
Again -- time to move on, Hamtramck.

Posted Nov. 6, 2026