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City Clerk Rana Faraj
The Hamtramck Review reports that Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj—who reported election fraud in the 2023 city council election and found 37 uncounted absentee ballots in her office last November—was not fired because of the way she handled her duties.
"None of those matters had much to do with her termination by the city," reporter Charles Sercombe writes."Instead, it was largely about a punching bag that sported a photograph of mayoral candidate Muhith Mahmood that was found in her office."
Sercombe goes on to report:
Mahmood, who is waiting for the state court of appeals to decide on the fate on the uncounted 37 ballots, said he was outraged over the punching bag.
“How would you feel?” Mahmood told The Review. “It’s a hate crime.” To the city, it was “inappropriate,” and city officials determined that, as city clerk she failed to perform her job “in a professional and impartial manner,” according to Faraj’s termination letter, dated Feb. 5 and issued by former Interim City Manager Alex Lagrou that The Review obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The letter went on to say: “Failing to remove the punching bag and/or discipline the staff member who affixed the photograph demonstrates a dereliction of your duties and (raises) concerns regarding your judgment and ability to manage.”
Mayoral candidate Muhith Mahmood
Four months ago, Faraj was placed on leave when uncounted ballots that could have changed the mayoral election last November were found in her office after the election. Adam Alharbi was declared the winner by a razor-thin margin.
Last December, she filed a lawsuit against the mayor, six City Council members and the interim city manager. She claimed she was retaliated against after reporting election misconduct to the state and after 37 absentee ballots were discovered following the November election
