Robert A. Ficano
Encyclopedia
Robert Anthony Ficano
(b. July 19, 1952, Detroit, Michigan
), American
politician, is County Executive
of Wayne County, Michigan
.
He received his BA in 1974 from Michigan State University
, and his JD in 1977 from University of Detroit. He worked as an attorney
, and was assistant city attorney for the city of Westland, Michigan
. He was nominated as the Democratic
candidate for Michigan House of Representatives from the 36th District in 1980.
After years as an attorney in private practice in Westland, Michigan, Ficano was appointed to deputy County Clerk under then County Clerk James Kileen. When William Lucas left the office of Wayne County Sheriff in 1983 to run for Wayne County Executive, Ficano was appointed Wayne County Sheriff
in 1983, and elected in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. In the history of electoral politics in Wayne County, no one has ever been elected sheriff without being appointed to the job prior to an election. In 2002, Ficano was elected county executive, and took office in 2003.
As county executive, he generated controversy in 2004 with his veto
of a proposed ordinance to ban smoking
in most workplaces. Ficano has been accused of running a perpetual re-election campaign without ever seriously getting involved in governing or making significant public policy decisions.
He is of Italian
descent and lives in Livonia
. Ficano has long held ties to the organized labor and the UAW in particular. His father was a custodian (and union member) in Livonia Public schools and his grandfather worked in the Ford Rouge factory.
Wayne County, which includes the city of Detroit
and its western and southern suburbs, is the nation's eighth largest population county, with 2.1 million people.
During a special meeting on October 31, 2011, the Wayne County Airport Authority announced the termination of Turkia Mullin as CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
. Shortly after Mullin's termination, Thomas Naughton was selected by the Airport Board as Interim CEO until a permanent replacement is announced. Naughton's history with the Wayne County Airport Authority extends back to 2002, where he's served as both Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/wayne_county/metro-airport%27s-board-will-meet-to-discuss-turkia-mullin%27s-future
(b. July 19, 1952, Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
), American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, is County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Wayne County, Michigan
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
.
He received his BA in 1974 from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and his JD in 1977 from University of Detroit. He worked as an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and was assistant city attorney for the city of Westland, Michigan
Westland, Michigan
Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...
. He was nominated as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Michigan House of Representatives from the 36th District in 1980.
After years as an attorney in private practice in Westland, Michigan, Ficano was appointed to deputy County Clerk under then County Clerk James Kileen. When William Lucas left the office of Wayne County Sheriff in 1983 to run for Wayne County Executive, Ficano was appointed Wayne County Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
in 1983, and elected in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. In the history of electoral politics in Wayne County, no one has ever been elected sheriff without being appointed to the job prior to an election. In 2002, Ficano was elected county executive, and took office in 2003.
As county executive, he generated controversy in 2004 with his veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
of a proposed ordinance to ban smoking
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
in most workplaces. Ficano has been accused of running a perpetual re-election campaign without ever seriously getting involved in governing or making significant public policy decisions.
He is of Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
descent and lives in Livonia
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
. Ficano has long held ties to the organized labor and the UAW in particular. His father was a custodian (and union member) in Livonia Public schools and his grandfather worked in the Ford Rouge factory.
Wayne County, which includes the city of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and its western and southern suburbs, is the nation's eighth largest population county, with 2.1 million people.
FBI investigation
In October 2011, Ficano was served with subpoenas by the FBI for records related to "pay to play" allegations, where constituents felt forced to contribute to designated "charities", which employed friends of his, and also his office's authorization of a $200,000 severance payment to Turkia Awada Mullin, an employee who resigned. After local media reported it to the public, Mullin agreed to return the money, but it remains unclear when the transfer will occur. http://www.freep.com/article/20111019/NEWS02/111019032/Robert-Ficano-on-FBI-subpoenas-There-is-nothing-that-is-going-to-come-up-?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEDuring a special meeting on October 31, 2011, the Wayne County Airport Authority announced the termination of Turkia Mullin as CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
. Shortly after Mullin's termination, Thomas Naughton was selected by the Airport Board as Interim CEO until a permanent replacement is announced. Naughton's history with the Wayne County Airport Authority extends back to 2002, where he's served as both Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/wayne_county/metro-airport%27s-board-will-meet-to-discuss-turkia-mullin%27s-future
External links
- Wayne County Executive official site
- Challengers backing away from running against Ficano, Observer & Eccentric newspapers, February 5, 2006
- Ficano Should Round Up Fake Badges, Detroit News editorial, November 11, 2004 (Google cache)
- Ficano Was Right To Veto Countywide Smoking Ordinance, Detroit News editorial, March 31, 2004 (Google cache)
- Ficano Probes No-Bid Deals, Detroit News, June 22, 2003 (Google cache)
- Ficano Bad for Labor, Wayne County Guardian, April 22, 2010 (Record Added)