Robert A. Ficano

Robert Anthony "Bob" Ficano (born July 19, 1952, Detroit, Michigan), American politician, is County Executive of Wayne County, Michigan.

He received his BA in 1974 from Michigan State University, and his JD in 1977 from University of Detroit. He worked as an attorney, and was assistant city attorney for the city of Westland, Michigan. He was nominated as the Democratic candidate for Michigan House of Representatives from the 36th District in 1980.

After years as an attorney in private practice in Westland, Michigan, Ficano was appointed to deputy County Clerk under then County Clerk James Kileen. When William Lucas left the office of Wayne County Sheriff in 1983 to run for Wayne County Executive, Ficano was appointed Wayne County Sheriff in 1983, and elected in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. In the history of electoral politics in Wayne County, no one has ever been elected sheriff without being appointed to the job prior to an election. In 2002, Ficano was elected county executive, and took office in 2003.

As county executive, he generated controversy in 2004 with his veto of a proposed ordinance to ban smoking in most workplaces.^{[citation needed]} Ficano has been accused of running a perpetual re-election campaign without ever seriously getting involved in governing or making significant public policy decisions.^{[citation needed]}

He is of Italian descent and lives in Livonia. Ficano has long held ties to the organized labor and the UAW in particular. His father was a custodian (and union member) in Livonia Public schools and his grandfather worked in the Ford Rouge factory.

Wayne County, which includes the city of Detroit and its western and southern suburbs, is the nation's eighth largest population county, with 2.1 million people.

FBI investigation

In October 2011, Ficano was served with subpoenas by the FBI for records related to "pay to play" allegations, where constituents felt forced to contribute to designated "charities", which employed friends of his, and also his office's authorization of a $200,000 severance payment to Turkia Awada Mullin, an employee who resigned. After local media reported it to the public, Mullin agreed to return the money, but it remains unclear when the transfer will occur.^[1]

During a special meeting on October 31, 2011, the Wayne County Airport Authority announced the termination of Turkia Mullin as CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Shortly after Mullin's termination, Thomas Naughton was selected by the Airport Board as Interim CEO until a permanent replacement is announced. Naughton's history with the Wayne County Airport Authority extends back to 2002, where he's served as both Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.^[2]

Charges against former employees

In May 2012, Laura Cox, a Republican on the County Commission, called for the immediate resignation of Ficano due to corruption charges against his former aide, David Edwards.^[3]

Edwards, who resigned in August 2012 from the department of technology, was charged on 8 May 2012 with one count of bribery. He allegedly misappropriated $13,000 from a county contractor.^[3]

References

• Who's Who in American Politics, 1993

External links

• Wayne County Executive official site
• Challengers backing away from running against Ficano, Observer & Eccentric newspapers, February 5, 2006
• Ficano Should Round Up Fake Badges, Detroit News editorial, November 11, 2004 (Google cache)
• Ficano Was Right To Veto Countywide Smoking Ordinance, Detroit News editorial, March 31, 2004 (Google cache)
• Ficano Probes No-Bid Deals, Detroit News, June 22, 2003 (Google cache)
• Ficano Bad for Labor, Wayne County Guardian, April 22, 2010 (Record Added)