Bob Ficano's latest State of the County speech strikes some listeners as a political pep rally.
"There’s a lot more work to do and I look forward to doing it,” Ficano says. (Photo via WXYZ)
Ficano compares Wayne County -- and himself, by extension -- as poised for a comeback after troubling days, just like a certain local industry. Steve Pardo quotes from Tuesday night's Dearborn address:
“Like the auto industry, Wayne County has had its share of adversity,” he told a crowd of about 90 at the Automotive Hall of Fame. “Like the auto industry, we’ve fought back from adversity and are moving forward again.”
Deadline commentary: Bob Ficano Must Not Run for Re-election
The county executive, Pardo writes, listed "what he considered successes: a Cobo Center expansion, growth in the Aerotropolis enterprise zone and more than $1.3 billion in new investments since 2012."
"There’s a lot more work to do and I look forward to doing it,” Ficano said. . . .
"Through the years I’ve endured what some believed were knockout punches, but it would be a mistake to count me out," said Ficano.
He took office in 2003 after being elected five times as county sheriff, and hasn't said whether he'lll seek a fourth term this fall as the county’s leader amid a federal corruption investigation and lingering controversies over a costly jail project that was abandoned over big pension payouts for some appointees. Candidates have until April 22 to file.
"Tuesday’s address showed no evidence he was ready to leave office," Pardo writes.
In the Free Press, Marlon A. Walker also notes the political backdrop:
To some, the speech felt like a re-election push, with the often-embattled Ficano talking about fighting to bring investment and opportunity into the county. . . .
“Talking about being a fighter and not counting how many times you’re knocked down ... sure sounded like a re-election announcement,” said Wayne County Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, D-Dearborn. “We’ll know after the filing deadline, but he sure sounded like a man who was running again.
Two Democrats -- County Commissioner Kevin McNamara of Belleville and Mayor William Wild of Westland -- are declared candidates for Ficano's job. State Rep. Phil Cavanagh, D-Redford Township, is also a likely candidate, accordingv to Pardo of The News.
McNamara, son of longtime county executive Ed McNamara, criticized Ficano on Tuesday night for lot inviting municipal leaders to his speech. "“He had a chance there to bring together communities and talk about collaboration, but he missed it,” the Free Press quotes the commissioner as saying.
