Leading mayoral candidate Abdul Algazali boasts that he's against tax increases. According to Wayne County property tax records, he may have taken that a step further.
By Charles Sercombe
This could be a potential game changer in the mayoral election.
On Friday (Aug. 9), three days after Tuesday’s Primary Election, it came to The Review’s attention that leading mayoral candidate, Abdul Algazali, is apparently behind in the property taxes for two buildings he owns on Jos. Campau.
According to the Wayne County Treasurer’s online site, for the years 2010 and 2011 Algazali owes a total of $9,498 for his building at 9222 Jos. Campau.
He owes another $2,819 for the same years at 8557 Jos. Campau.
Both properties are “subject to foreclosure,” according to the county.
You can look up the information at http://www.waynecounty.com/treasurer/
Once you get to the page, scroll down to the box that says “pay property taxes” and click on online. You will then be asked two questions and hit “enter site” on the first page that comes up and “accept disclaimer” on the next page that appears.
Once you get to the address finder page, type in the street address and for the street name type: jos campau (with no period after jos).
So, how does any of this potentially alter the mayor’s race?
According to the City Charter, on page 11, Section 6-08, any elected official who is in default to the city will have their election votes be termed “void.”
The Review is in the process of finding out exactly how this will play out, legally, and left a message with the city attorney, who was out of the office when a call for comment was placed Friday afternoon.
Algazali, who is a member of city council and is mayor pro tem, could not be reached for comment.
Section 6-08 says:
“No person shall be elected or appointed to any office who is a defaulter to the City or to any board, or office, or department thereof, or to any school district, county, or other municipal corporation of the State, now or heretofore existing. All votes for the election or appointment of any such defaulter shall be void.”
The Review is also going to confirm the county’s online information on Monday at the Treasurer’s Office.
Another lingering question is, if Algazali’s election results are thrown out, does that mean the third-place finisher, John Ulaj, automatically moves up to the number two spot to face-off with Mayor Karen Majewski in the November General Election ballot?
(Disclaimer: John Ulaj is the owner of The Review.)
Algazali, a chiropractor, has consistently voted against tax and fee increase proposals while on council, and in his campaign literature for the primary election prominently mentioned that.
Stay tuned readers, we will have more to come on Monday.