City finds more candidates to boot from the election

Hamtramck’s election year has now kicked off, and the candidates are lined up for the August Primary Election. This year, the city cracked down on enforcing the qualifications to be a candidate and ended up disqualifying a few. File photo

By Charles Sercombe
The city’s stepped-up enforcement of candidate requirements snared three more would-be candidates.
This year, the city hired a private investigator to perform background checks on candidates who filed for mayor and city council in the upcoming August primary election.
According to the city charter, candidates are disqualified for things like not being a resident, not being a registered voter, owing the city or any other government agency money, or being in violation of city requirements, such as having a business license to operate a business here.
Candidates sign an affidavit swearing that they meet the requirements to be on a ballot, under the threat of perjury. So far, the city has declined to prosecute those who have been disqualified.
Last week, the city disqualified two mayoral candidates and one city council candidate. However, the city council candidate in question, Khalid Al Qsaimi, was reinstated after he proved he was, indeed, all paid up on bills owed to the city.
By Monday of this week, two more candidates were disqualified. One candidate who was disqualified, Arif Arman Jisan, was rejected because he was not even a registered voter.
And, there are two high-profile candidates who may or may not be booted off the ballot: City Councilmembers Muhith Mahmood and Abu Musa.
Mahmood, who is serving his first term, filed to run for the office of mayor, and Musa is seeking another term on council.
The city’s investigator found that neither one lives in the city, a finding that has stirred up a lot of controversy and chatter on social media.
The investigation found that Musa lives in Warren, with his wife, and that Mahmood lives in Troy, with his wife and family.
A special city council meeting was held last Friday to decide whether to remove them from the ballot, but there were not enough councilmembers in attendance to allow such an official action to take place.
Normally, it’s the job of City Clerk Rana Faraj to decide, based on the evidence presented to her, whether candidates are qualified to run for office. But, because of both the high stakes and the political nature of the cases with Musa and Mahmood, the decision was punted over to the council.
The council may also consider declaring their seats vacant, based on their alleged non-residency.
No matter the outcome, the decision will likely be challenged in Wayne County Circuit Court.
Both Musa and Mahmood vehemently objected to the accusations, with Musa tearing a piece of paper in two and pounding a table, and Mahmood also underscoring his innocence by pounding on a table, and even uttering the word “bullsh*t.”
The matter will now go before the council in its next meeting, May 13, where the private investigator’s detailed report will be available.
In the meantime, City Manager Max Garbarino is referring the matter to the state Attorney General’s Office for review.
In another high-profile matter, Mayor Amer Ghalib is not seeking re-election, in hopes of being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as President Trump’s nominee to be ambassador to Kuwait.
Also, Councilmember Khalil Refai abruptly decided to withdraw from the mayoral race, and also not re-enter the council election.
He told The Review, in an email, that the he is dropping out primarily for personal reasons.
“The main reason I decided to withdraw from the mayoral race was, after deep reflection and consideration from all angles. … At this time, my priority is my family,” Refai said.
“I’m still in the process of working to bring my wife to the United States, and that journey has required me to travel overseas. If I were to win the mayor’s race, or even a council seat while having to be away for extended periods, I don’t believe that would serve the best interests of the residents or the city.”
In the meantime, here are the candidates who will appear on the August primary ballot, including those disqualified:
Mayor:
• Adam Alharbi
• Khandaker Showkat Hossain
• Mister Bangladesh
• Muhith Mahmood – Disqualification determination pending on a city council vote on May 13
• Mahabub Karim –Disqualified (a business owner with no license
• Khalil Refai — Withdrawal
City Council:
• Joseph Alan Strzalka
• Diane Elizabeth Frkan
• Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
• Nayeem Leon Choudhury
• Motahar Abdo Fadhel
• Yousuf Saed
• Abdulmalik Yahya Kassim
• Luqman Mohamed Saleh
• Russ Gordon
• Mahfuzur Rahman
• Khalid Al Qsaimi (was listed disqualified but proved he paid up on city bills)
• Abu A. Musa – Disqualification determination pending on a city council vote on May 13
• Arif Arman Jisan–Disqualified (not a registered voter)
• Najib Muthana –Disqualified (delinquent taxes and water bill)
• Mohammed Aimon Islam – Withdrawal
Both Joe Strzalka and Nayeem Choudhury are former councilmembers, with Strzalka serving in the 1990s, and Choudhury losing his re-election bid four years ago.
The August Primary Election is Aug. 5.
(Editor’s note: The print version of this story had the wrong date for the August Primary Election. The date in this version is correct.)
Posted May 2, 2025