This election season is missing one thing: candidates

Where are the candidates?
This year’s election for city council attracted very few candidates, which is surprising when you consider three seats will be on the ballot. In past elections we have seen numerous candidates come out.
This year we have a paltry nine candidates.
Where did everyone go?
One theory has it that since the council has little or no decision making authority, what’s the point?
That is a compelling argument to make. Unfortunately, it is true that the city council has been sidelined while the city transitions back to local control. It’s the city manager and the state’s Transition Advisory Board who are in control.
We’re not sure why that is since it was the city council who asked for the state to intervene when a financial crisis hit. The council at that time did the responsible thing.
When the emergency manager left about four months ago, she put strict limitations on the city council.
There is also another explanation for such a low interest in public office: It’s not worth the abuse. Hamtramck’s politics are known to be rough, which understandably is a turnoff to those who might be interested in running for public office.
When the state decided to install an emergency manager it was noted that the city had a “toxic” political environment. That’s something we all need to work on. While that toxic environment didn’t directly lead to the city financial meltdown, it was a contributing factor.
Hamtramck is out of a financial emergency, but apparently there are enough people who believe we still have a hostile political environment. That may prove to be a legacy we can’t shake off.