City Council taps Councilmember Musa to be second in charge

City Councilmember Abu Musa has once again been appointed as Mayor Pro Tem, replacing Councilmember Khalil Refai, who resigned from the position.

By Charles Sercombe
It was just eight months ago, back in January, when City Councilmember Abu Musa was stripped of his title as being second in charge of the council.
That’s when three fellow councilmembers voted to remove him as Mayor Pro Tem, which is the person tasked with being in charge when the mayor is not available, or resigns.
It was a contentious meeting, with Musa accusing fellow Councilmember Mohammed Hassan, who orchestrated his removal, of being corrupt.
“He rigged the election,” Musa said at the time.
Hassan insisted he meant nothing personal against Musa. Hassan justified his motion because Musa is getting paid by taxpayers but sleeps during meetings.
Musa denied he falls asleep, but said he would be willing to have an “expert” determine “whether I’m sleeping or not.”
He then “vowed” to get justice, but did not elaborate.
The council then voted, by a bare majority, to replace Musa with Councilmember Khalil Refai.
Flash forward to a couple of weeks ago, and Refai abruptly announced he resigned as Mayor Pro Tem, and even possibly the council, over the council’s decision to fire City Manager Max Garbarino.
Over the better part of the past year, the once-united council started to fracture, and some councilmembers began to turn on each other.
Why?
It’s never been entirely clear, other than being due to an obvious behind-the-scenes power struggle.
But the role of Mayor Pro Tem looms large these days, since Mayor Amer Ghalib could be leaving the city any week now if the U.S. Senate confirms his appointment to be ambassador to Kuwait.
Still, why does the job of mayor of Hamtramck have so much apparent importance?
Ghalib deserves some credit for elevating the position of mayor, since President Trump has embraced him as an ally and nominated him to the ambassador position in exchange for Ghalib’s support of him.
Are some members of council thinking that, by becoming mayor, they, too, have a chance to step into the national political limelight?
Posted Sept. 19, 2025