McNamara: Should I Ask Ficano to Resign? Let the People Decide

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) -- Wayne County Commissioner Kevin McNamara says he's not ready to ask for Bob Ficano's resignation, but he's going to leave that decision up to the people he represents.

"How they felt about requesting Bob Ficano to resign," said McNamara.

We asked him if he wants Ficano to resign.

"No, not right now," he responded.

That's why he sent out an email survey Wednesday to 7,000 of his 150,000 constuuents.

Two Wayne County commissioners, Bernard Parker and Laura Cox, have already asked for executive Bob Ficano to resign. McNamara wants to know if he should, too.

If they did say they wanted him to resign, would he?

"I would have to. I represent 150,000 people. I can't make decisions for them. If they feel overwhelmingly that way, that's the way I have to go," he answered.

Despite the severance scandal that has peeled back layers of alleged corruption in Wayne County's government, in the survey question McNamara points out there is still no proof Ficano did anything wrong.

However, he does worry about the county's leadership.

If McNamara is swayed to ask for Ficano's resignation, that makes a total of three commissioners, and that could put a move into motion to oust the executive from office.

What have the commissioners talked to their legal counsel about?

"We asked them the process. They've looked into it, and they tell us that there is no state law that they know of for removing a county executive," McNamara explained.

We're told if a majority of the commissioners vote for Ficano to go, it would basically be a vote of no confidence. The commissioners would ask the state legislature and governor to intervene and basically create a new law to remove Ficano from office.

Before a drastic move is even considered, McNamara wanted to get his direction from his voters and the feedback has already started to pour in.

"They're all over the board. There's a lot of people that believe the process has to be moved out. There's a lot of people that believe even if he hasn't done anything wrong, maybe he should be removed," McNamara said.

It's early, but McNamara says about 60 percent want Ficano to go, 20 percent want him to stay and the rest are undecided.

We asked for a response from Ficano, but have not yet received one. However, he has repeatedly told FOX 2 he has no intention of stepping down.