Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun has been fined by Wayne County for failing to submit required campaign finance reports. County records indicate that Baydoun did not file his post-primary and pre-general financial disclosures by their respective deadlines, leading to a fine of $500.
The campaign finance reports are crucial as they provide transparency regarding the financial activities of political candidates. The absence of these reports means the public is left unaware of how much money Baydoun’s campaign has raised and spent since July 20. Prior to this date, he reported raising $210,297 and spending approximately $132,000, a substantial amount given the population of Dearborn Heights, which is around 60,600 residents.
As of November 7, Baydoun had still not submitted the required reports. His tenure as mayor began in October after Bill Bazzi resigned to become an ambassador to Tunisia. Baydoun was elected to complete Bazzi’s four-year term, which concludes on December 31, and will start a new four-year term in January after winning the November 4 election against Councilwoman Denise Malinowski Maxwell.
On October 2, the Wayne County Clerk’s campaign finance manager notified Baydoun of his failure to file the post-primary report, which was due on September 4. This oversight resulted in the imposition of a $500 fine. Baydoun has not yet responded to inquiries regarding his failure to file and does not appear to have paid the fine, according to county records.
In addition to the post-primary report, Baydoun has not submitted his pre-general campaign finance report, which was due on October 24. A notice from Wayne County on October 27 warned him that he could incur another fine of $500 if he did not file within 20 days. Previously, he was assessed a $50 fee for the late filing of his pre-primary report, which he submitted on July 29.
The Wayne County Clerk’s campaign finance manager highlighted several errors and omissions in Baydoun’s pre-primary report. These included failing to disclose the occupations of eight contributors, not reporting a fundraising event, and other inaccuracies regarding campaign expenditures. The county issued letters in August and September detailing these issues, but Baydoun did not rectify them.
Baydoun is not the only official in Dearborn Heights facing scrutiny. Hassan Ahmad, the City Council Chair, also failed to submit his pre-general report by the October 24 deadline. Other council candidates have complied with their reporting obligations. Notably, Maxwell filed her reports and received a reporting waiver from the Wayne County Clerk’s Office, having raised funds exceeding the threshold after contributing $8,000 to her campaign and transferring $4,000 from her council campaign account.
The repercussions for failing to file campaign finance reports can be significant. Under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, candidates who neglect to file two financial statements may face a misdemeanor or be barred from assuming public office. A spokesperson for Dana Nessel, the state Attorney General, noted that any complaints regarding violations must be filed with the Michigan Department of State, which oversees election regulations. As of now, no referrals regarding Baydoun have been made to the Attorney General’s office.
As the situation develops, it is unclear what additional penalties Baydoun may face if he continues to neglect his filing responsibilities. The importance of compliance with campaign finance laws cannot be overstated, as they serve to maintain transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
