County Commission Candidate Says Ficano Should Be Impeachable

Wayne County Commission Candidate Shannon Price said in a news release Tuesday the Wayne County Commission should act quickly to close a loophole in the Wayne County Charter.

In his news release, Price, a Canton resident who is seeking election to the 10th District of the commission representing Canton Township, the City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township, called for the commission to put a charter amendment proposition on the November ballot. This proposal, he wrote, would give the county commission the ability to impeach the county executive from office—in extreme instances and only with a super-majority vote.

Price is running against fellow Republican Rick Covertino and Democrats James Amar and Matthew Fiems.

“This is not just about the personalities and issues that have recently come to light,” Price said. “This is about returning the power of executive oversight to the commission and making the executive branch more accountable. Simply put, no more backroom deals or golden parachutes.”

Last month, the county commission voted to censure County Executive Robert Ficano — which Price said was essentially giving Ficano a slap on the wrist — after Ficano acknowledged paying a $200,000 severance to former chief development officer Turkia Awada Mullin, who left the county voluntarily to run Metro Airport.

In the censure, the commission stated that they had no faith in the ability of Ficano to continue to lead the county administration. However, they noted at the time that the Wayne County Charter did not give them the authority to remove him from office, Price said.

Price said the commission should have the ability to impeach the seated executive in extreme cases — under which he said Ficano qualifies — through a super majority vote of 3/4 of the commission members. The Chief Judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court then would preside over the trial to remove the executive. Price said the commission should place such an amendment on the ballot this year and not waste time—or taxpayer money—talking about it.

“We don’t need to pay for a study or appoint a panel to make a recommendation on this,” Price said in his news release. “The residents of Wayne County have already spoken—loudly—that they are disappointed in the lack of leadership from the commission and this administration. This would give the commission the power to take additional steps and it will help make county government more transparent and accountable.”