Controversy seeps into Hamtramck mayoral, council races as probes hover

Hamtramck — The city's mayoral candidates are pushing messages of unity and transparency as primary election voters sift through a web of investigations, suspensions and litigation to decide whom they want to consider in November to lead the deeply diverse city.

Multiple investigations are underway concerning the Wayne County city of nearly 28,000 residents, including one that accuses five current and former City Council members of allegedly conspiring to receive absentee ballots from recently naturalized citizens in the 2023 election. Another involves one of those same council members, who is accused of not even living in Hamtramck, along with another council member, though they deny the allegations.

The controversies around the all-Muslim council heightened in May when then-City Manager Max Garbarino suspended police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, a Yemeni American, amid multiple allegations of wrongdoing and a visit by the FBI. The City Council, led by Mayor Amer Ghalib, responded by suspending Garbarino as some community members called for reinstating Altaheri and Ghalib claimed the allegations against Altaheri were false.

The investigations have prompted mayoral hopeful Khan Hossain to say the controversies are "giving Muslims a bad name," something he wants to reverse.



https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/23/controversy-seeps-into-hamtramck-mayoral-council-races-probes-investigations-hover-residency-ballot/84527719007/