Presidential campaign underscores a political rift among city officials

Councilmember Mohammed Hassan (left) and former Councilmember Anam Miah speak at a campaign rally for Vice President Harris.

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck now has dueling presidential campaign offices.
And Mayor Amer Ghalib, who is a Trump supporter, has an issue that former mayor Karen Majewski is endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Ghalib recently caused a stir that attracted national media attention when he endorsed Republican nominee former president Donald Trump, even though Ghalib had called himself a Democrat and Trump has called those emigrating from Yemen “terrorists.”
Trump has since apologized for the comment, and has welcomed the support of the Yemeni community.
Ghalib is the first Yemeni-American to be elected as mayor, and he is an immigrant from Yemen.
Majewski is a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party. She and others, including City Councilmember Mohammed Hassan, recently celebrated the opening of a Harris campaign office on Conant.
Ghalib and others had earlier opened a Trump office on Jos. Campau.
Ghalib had plenty to say about Majewski’s endorsement on his Facebook page, in a posting addressed to “the American Yemeni Community.” The post has since been deleted.
This is a translation from the original Arabic, and misspellings have been corrected by The Review:
“Former Mayor Mrs. Karen Majewski, (is) organizing a coalition in Hamtramck to support Kamala Harris and her disastrous policies with the current administration, and the Democratic agenda in your community.”
“No need to remind you of the former mayor’s stance on all issues that concern you and your families, children and beliefs. I’m sure you remember her well!
“You are now between two options: either you support those who support that poisoned agenda, or you stand with those who defend you, your values and beliefs.
“We will stick to covenant and principle and positions, personal interest and their owners will go to Hell!”
Ghalib did not elaborate on what he meant by Majewski’s “agenda.”
Majewski responded to Ghalib’s comment and told The Review.
“As an invited guest to the grand opening of the Harris/Walz office in Hamtramck, I was honored to join my voice for the ticket which speaks out for immigrants, for the working class, and for all marginalized communities, including women and our LGBTQ+ neighbors and their allies,” Majewski said.
“These are the American values embodied in the Constitution that Donald Trump and his supporters are looking forward to unraveling with Project 2025, in order to turn our country into a theocracy.
“The irony, of course, is that that imagined theocracy is based on profound hypocrisies that would deny the humanity — and allow the oppression — of those who disagree with their own narrow tenets. …”
Ghalib’s supporters are also not happy with Councilmember Hassan supporting Harris.
One person, whose name is not immediately known because they wrote it in Arabic script, had this to say about Hassan on a Facebook posting:
“Hassan turned against the mayor from the beginning of this year when a vote took place to choose the deputy mayor, which Hassan had previously occupied, and the mayor decided to stick to neutrality and let the six members choose who will be the deputy.”
The person also said that Hassan was acting in spite because when he and the mayor, as well as a few other councilmembers, attended a Trump campaign rally in Warren, Hassan was not invited to meet Trump and take a picture with him.
“Hassan returned home upset because he didn’t meet Trump and since then declared that he is against Trump and with Harris,” the person said.
At a recent city council meeting, a growing rift between Hassan and Ghalib became more apparent.
After Hassan said he was supporting the Democratic Party, Ghalib appeared to take it as a personal political challenge.
“You will have to resign from city council to run against me, and you will lose,” Ghalib said.
Councilmember Mohammed Alsomiri, and, it appears, Councilmember Muhith Mahmood, also support Harris.
The split in who supports which presidential candidate is also indicative of a growing rift between the mayor and some on the city council.
Mayor Ghalib has since softened his approach to those with differing political viewpoints.
“The difference does not spoil the friendship… and our hearts accommodate all opinions, we work hard from our point of view, and it seems that the priorities between us are different. …,” Ghalib said on his Facebook page.
“It is natural that different opinions will produce between the parties. My affection to all.”
Posted Oct. 25, 2024