In Our Opinion … The election that just won’t go away

Brace yourself, Hamtramck. It now looks like the saga of the 37 uncounted ballots from last November’s election for city council and the mayorship will be included in the final count after all. That recount could result in Mayor Adam Alharbi giving up his gavel to chair meetings, and turning it over to his mayoral election opponent, former councilmember Muhith Mahmood. It has been a topsy-turvy ordeal over these ballots. Mayor Alharbi has been in a legal fight to prevent the ballots from being counted. His opponent, Mahmood, obviously wants the ballots counted. In some ways, this is unfair to Mayor Alharbi, who has now invested eight months into his role as the figurehead of the city. But it can also be seen as a vindication that all voters must have their voices heard in an election. It was not the fault of those 37 voters that their ballots were not included in the November election because the city clerk’s office misplaced them. Mayor Alharbi’s legal fight has now reached a dead-end, and the ballots must be counted. So, prepare folks — we may have change coming in city hall.

Posted Aug. 21, 2026