In Our Opinion … This year’s election will usher in new era

This coming Tuesday, Aug. 5, is the city’s primary election for mayor and city council.
Tuesday’s election will likely be the first step into a new political landscape for Hamtramck, what with the potential of having three new city council members.
It’s a given that we’ll have a new mayor, since Mayor Amer Ghalib bowed out from running for another term in the hope of being confirmed as President Trump’s nominee to be the next ambassador to Kuwait.
The election comes at a time when the city could be facing a financial crisis, with the major losses of revenue from the parking meters and from Wayne County bailing out of its Hamtramck jail to consolidate into a new one in Detroit.
The county had been paying about $1.4 million a year to Hamtramck to use its jail here, but now, with that closed down, the county will no longer pay the city.
And, on top of that, there is still a possibility that four current councilmembers could face criminal charges for violating election laws in 2023.
Also, Hamtramck’s current city manager, police chief and an investigator with the police department are all on paid suspension.
The next four years will be challenging, to say the least.
Need to know more about the candidates? If so, head over the Hamtramck Public Library’s website and click on the interviews with each.
No matter what — choose wisely, voters.
Posted Aug. 1, 2025