What Made Bob Ficano Think He Could Win?

The Robert Ficano administration had become much like that ground beef you forgot was sitting way back in the recesses of your refrigerator for far too long.

When you finally discovered it, there was a bit of a rancid smell, the expiration date had passed and you debated whether it could be salvaged with lots of seasonings and a serious grilling.

But by midnight Tuesday, it appeared nothing could salvage Ficano's political career. It was cooked. Ready for the political dumpster. As of early Wednesday morning, he was running fifth in a field of 11, according to the Detroit News, and former Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans was headed for victory. Westland Mayor Bill Wild was in second. (Updated: Free press reports Evans won with 44%t of the vote, followed by Wild with 26%. Ficano came in fifth with 6%)

Why Ficano even thought he could salvage a rotting administration was beyond me. Corrupt underlings who went off to federal prison. Ridiculous early retirement benefits. A disastrous jail project. A broke county. 

Thankfully, enough voters had enough sense to turn away and elect someone else. 

At age 62, his life in public office is likely over. 

Frankly, I was surprised Ficano even ran. His administration has been under investigation by the FBI. And quite a while back, when everything seemed to be crumbling, and underlings were getting indicted,  I spoke to one of his staffers who told me that Ficano didn't want to step down in the middle of his term because he wanted to save face. But he had no intention of running again.

Somewhere in between now and then, he had a meal of full-fledged delusion, and thought he could get re-elected. Go figure.

Ficano was elected Wayne County Sheriff in 1984, and stayed in that post until taking office as the Wayne County Executive in 2003. He was pretty popular, both as sheriff and county executive, that is until the scandals began surfacing, one after another. 

What I'll miss most is Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff going after Ficano. 

Other than that, the scandals that plagued his administration became rather tiring, not to mention disturbing,

Hopefully, Evans, should he become the new county executive, can avoid the scandals that plagued Ficano. 

Hopefully.