After repeated suspensions and roll calls, Hamtramck council confirms Councilman Hassan as mayor pro tem
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Summary
A contested and repeatedly suspended election for Hamtramck mayor pro tem on Jan. 6 ended with Councilman Mohammed Hassan confirmed after multiple nominations, suspension-of-rule votes and tie-break confusion that drew public criticism about process and decorum.
Hamtramck — After several rounds of nominations, votes and procedural suspensions, the Hamtramck City Council on Jan. 6 confirmed Councilman Mohammed Hassan as mayor pro tem for 2026–27.
The vote capped a chaotic organizational meeting in which multiple council members attempted nominations and at least two separate motions to "suspend the law" were approved to allow further nominations and revotes. Council members suspended rules repeatedly after disagreements about order and whether nominations required prior suspension of the agenda.
The dispute began when councilmembers debated whether a self-nomination or an item introduced earlier should be handled immediately or at the new-business slot. That led to repeated roll calls and competing tallies announced from the dais; at different points council members declared competing outcomes and asked the city attorney to clarify procedure. After the council ultimately agreed to conduct another roll call, the motion to nominate Mohammed Hassan was moved, seconded and approved by the council. One member recorded an abstention in the final count.
Mayor Pro Tem Hassan said he appreciated the council's support. "Thank you all my colleagues, to make me a mayor pro tem," he said, adding that despite earlier conflict "no matter what happened today ... we'll still colleague. We'll still friend. We'll still brother, and we're gonna work for Hamtramck City and Hamtramck residents."
Several council members and attendees criticized the meeting's handling. Resident speakers and at least one public commenter urged clearer adherence to Robert's Rules and advance public notice of agenda items. Council members acknowledged the tension; the city attorney and chair repeatedly intervened to restore order and to interpret the charter's requirements for organizational votes.
The council opened the meeting with a roll call and adopted its 2026 regular meeting schedule earlier in the evening. The mayor pro tem election drew the bulk of time and attention, and the body moved on to routine reports and public comment after confirming Hassan.
The council did not refer further procedural changes to a committee at this meeting; members repeatedly said they would work together going forward. The council is scheduled to continue its regular business at future meetings.
