The Dirty World of Dearborn Politics
The unfortunate part about any person seeking public office is that politics is ugly business. We saw it this year in Dearborn in the State House race between council members George Darany and Suzanne Sarini.
Tom Tafelski
It was also ugly during last year’s general election. In the city council race, Dearborn Council President Tom Tafelski became the target of an anonymous attack/smear campaign both on the Internet and in the mail.
We approached Tafelski when the mailings began, providing him the opportunity to set the record straight last November but he declined. Instead, he said he would speak openly to us when this investigation was done.
True to his word, Tafelski took time out to discuss the results of the investigation, which are now public. There are many tails to the origins of the Tafelski attacks.
While it isn’t yet crystal clear who actually penned the mailing or email, an investigation did reveal that the email was forwarded by a Dearborn councilwoman. The investigation also turned up evidence that one of the mailings was stamped from the company of a Dearborn councilman to-be, Tafelski tells DeepsaidWhat. And, a Wayne County commissioner apologized to Tafelski for forwarding the email once.
Worth noting is that Tafelski had this information ahead of the November election. But he decided against releasing it because he said he didn’t want to stoop to the negative campaigning he so despises, which was a good call on his part.
While it is unlikely anyone will be charged for any of this, Tafeslki tells DeepsaidWhat he is going to refer the information to the city’s ethics board, along with the county and state election commission. He also said he is evaluating filing civil lawsuits. So this has the potential to live on and get a littly messy.
“What they all did was unconscionable. The fact remains it hurt my family because they wanted to get ahead in politics. And shame on them. Now they are scurrying behind the scenes. When you start talking to attorneys and possible charges . . . people dime out people pretty quick,” Tafelski said.
But first a recap from last November.
Like the local papers and many others across town, we here at DeepsaidWhat last November received anonymous emails and letters about Tafelski. There also was a Facebook page that featured pictures of Tafeslki near scantily clad women at a Super Bowl party in Detroit in 2006. Tafelski said the women were performing with Cirque De Soleil, the acrobatic circus act, but the photo album was titled “Tom Tafelski loves strip joints.”
The mailings also claimed he paid fewer property taxes than his neighbors but the allegation in this case apparently compared his home to those of his neighbors across the street, whose backyards open to Dearborn Hills Golf Course.
In addition, the anonymous papers said Tafelski was accused of fraud by a former employer. What was not mentioned, Tafelski said, was that the allegations were raised in a response to a Family Medical Leave lawsuit he filed against the company, but the charges were never pursued.
David Bazzy
Well, it appears that at least one of the letters was sent using a postage machine registered to Kenwal Steel, where then-city council candidate David Bazzy is president, according to the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Detroit office that reviewed one of the envelopes the mail was sent in.
Bazzy, who lost that election, told the Dearborn Press & Guide in Sunday’s edition that he had no idea who sent the mailings and denied any involvement.
“Look I am not a politician, I am a businessman,” he told Press & Guide reporter J. Patrick Pepper. “I didn’t do any negative stuff in my campaign and I definitely had nothing to do with (the mailings).”
Bazzy told the Press & Guide that Kenwal allows employees to use the postage meter to send out personal mailings if they pay for it, he said, and there are more than 60 employees who have access to the machine. Bazzy, who will join council in January because of Councilman Darany’s departure to serve on the state legislature, told the paper that he thought an employee possibly put the material in the mail thinking it would help him win election onto council.
Kenwal does not keep records of who paid for what mailings but that the company policy would be reviewed as a result of these new findings, Bazzy told the paper.
Tafelski tells DeepsaidWhat that he didn’t believe Bazzy’s explanation.
“The man runs the company. When you get caught, you look to save face at this point,” Tafelski said.
One has to wonder whether Bazzy might reconsider joining the Dearborn City Council with these allegations now surfacing. If he did decline, Sharon Dulmage, the ninth highest vote getter would be given the seat on city council.
Suzanne Sareini
There also was an email sent around, Tafelski said, distributed during last year’s election – with links to the Tafelski lawsuit, as well as a link to the Facebook page with the scantily clad women. Tafelski said a forwarded copy of the email had Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini’s name on it. Tafelski also said the email was forwarded by Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak. But neither created the original email or its contents.
Gary Woronchak
“Gary forwarded the email around, too,” Tafelski said. “When I confronted Gary, he took responsibility for it. He should know better. He is a seasoned politician.”
Woronchak tells DeepsaidWhat he forwarded the email once, told this to Tafelski in a conversation this spring, and apologized.
“I have always had a good working relationship with Tom and have shown him due respect, and he knows this, so he should have known there was no malicious intent,” Woronchak said.
The Press & Guide reports that Sareini apologized for the e-mail when Tafelski confronted her about it in November last year. At the time, she sent a retraction e-mail to everyone she had forwarded it to, saying she was sorry for offending Tafelski and that she was “wrong” to send it out in the first place.
“I was wrong, it was a dumb mistake, but I’ve admitted it, I apologized for it and I don’t know what else I can do,” Sareini told the Press & Guide, who herself complained of dirty campaigning by Darany when they competed for the 15th District state representative seat earlier this month.
“That campaign was extremely hard on my family and it represents everything that is wrong in politics,” Tafelski said. “My kids’ lives will never be the same from that.”
November 24th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Interesting that Suzanne Sareini’s name is the one that keeps popping up in these stories about dirty politics.
I wonder when she might realize that these tactics may have cost her the city council presidency and the state representative positions?
The real question is who is funding her attacks against the likes of Tafelski and Darany?
Anyone dare to make an educated guess?
November 24th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Tom make sure and not let up, make sure u get a piece of their ass, they tried to stick u, so remember that and sue the pricks. Set an example, so maybe this negative campaigning will stop.
November 24th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
In my opinion the “puppet masters” known as Big Jack and Little Mark are the ones behind the attacks on Tafelski. The big guy sent his minions out to do his dirty work. The image I get is from the 196o’s Batman Tv series, and the big guy is the “Penguin” sending out his inept cronies Woronchak,Sareini and Bazzy to pull of his caper but just like in the Tv series they always clumsily get busted.
I hope the Dearborn voters remember these dirty political hits and smears and hold these politicians accountable at the voting booth.
I think National,State and local voters are now much more informed about dirty politicians and those that don’t have the best interest of their constituents at heart. Its time for the big guy to go,its time for the dark shadow chief of staff to go,its time for their cronies on the council to go,its time to make the next Dearborn election look like the last national mid term election a few weeks ago.
Its time to throw the bums out and start a new era of real leadership in Dearborn.
November 24th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Mr. Tafelski is a class act. He exemplifies the type of fresh leadership Dearborn sorely needs.
November 25th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Dirty politics is bad all around. People are sorry when they get caught. This city and politics are no different than others. There is no such thing as a free lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!Wanna bet. And by the way, remember the civil service oath from a VOLUNTEER.
November 25th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Oh My God, are you guys kidding me now. We know that this city is messed up, and the Mayor and council are totally to blame. Dearborn has seen it all but this takes the cake. Tom T.was going around telling everyone that he has contacted the FBI and had pionted out to them that he belives Hakim Fakhoury and Neizh Kadry was behind the pictures and now he claims that was a mistake, it is his own friends. Tom what has anyone done wrong to you, was that you at a STRIP CLUB or not? If it was then shame on you not the people around that are showing the city who you really are! Dearborn when is enough enough they all should be embarressed.
November 25th, 2010 at 11:48 am
In a pathetic way, it’s funny that these clowns are like the Bad News Bears of dirty politics—however, it’s not funny at all to their potential victims.
Let’s remember this when Gary Woronchak tries to run for mayor if the big guy gets his judicial appointment.
November 25th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Sareini’s attacks against Durany? What campaign were you following? Dirty politics are a long time Dearborn tradition, one that really needs to end. Attempts to justify playing dirty by saying the other person did it too, or first, do not reflect well on a person’s character, not that it seems to matter to Dearborn voters.
Tom is right, these type of attacks keep many good people from running for office. Families are hurt and torn apart in the name of “winning”, the truth becomes irrelevant. How many new or young candidates do we see run for office in Dearborn? It’s mostly just the same, recycled people running for different offices. Is this really what we want for our future? Wake up Dearborn
November 25th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Like i said people,pay attention to the national midterm election a few weeks ago,it didn’t matter what party the politicians represented,whoever was dishonest,made back room deals,put the people second behind their own agenda were voted out!
Thats how you do it,you write it down and you save the names for election day and you vote the dishonest bums out.
Too bad Dearborn’s election day isn’t sooner because i have my list ready.
November 25th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
At the very least I would think that this is an ethics violation by Bazzy,Woronchak and Sareini. It would be justified to see a recall started,if anyone knows the procedure and criteria to start and complete a recall please post it here.
November 25th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Sharon Dulmage, should be the next person joining the Dearborn City Council ( a proven leader) !Bassy just go home and wait for another charter appointment form the mayor, because that will be coming soon , when the mayor posts his blue ribbon committees recommendations…to reopen charter rules dealing with police & fire! Hey Dave have you spent all the brown field money yet? Nov. 15th. COUNCIL MEETING ? Boy oh boy how the plot thicken…. CAN YOU SAY CONFLICT OF INTEREST…. WAKE UP PEOPLE GO TO TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
November 26th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Tom may not be the cleanest politician in town, but the big guy hasn’t got the balls to do the backstabbing, himself so he gets Norwood and the other cronies, to do it for him, grow some kahunnah’s big boy. Tom remember the names, and keep them handy.
November 26th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Howard Johnson’s right! If the dirt keeps up, no qualified candidates will run. That’s why we get 1) The Mayor’s daughter 2) That nice Polish boy who is the Judge’s nephew 3) That nice Armenian boy. He’s a school teacher right? 4) That nice man who runs the trolleys. Oh yes, quality applicants all. Then, when you finally get people from the business world who actually know how to balance a check book, who actually WANT to try to make the city better, who don’t run for office because they need the money, the white hoods come out because, Lawdy Lord, Hezbollah is right around the corner. The good old days weren’t that good. Running a city is not pretty. If you really want to see sausage being made, go see Johnny Chimento at Alcamo’s. Oh, and get some spiced olives while you’re at it.
November 27th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Comic Book Guy’s seemingly serious explanation of his world vision based on 60’s era Batman was the funniest thing I have read in a long time. I’d encourage everyone to come up with “bad guy” monikers – “the Big Guy” is not sufficient – and analyze all our foibles through the prism of these true crime adventures.
November 29th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Amer – Tafelski’s personal life is HIS personal life. Going out with the guys or to a bachelor party are not against the law nor is it unethical nor in the way of him doing his job.
Using his personal life in a smear campaign, however, is. Shame on those cowards and low-lives who have to stoop to this kind of nonsense to cover up their own lack of ability.
I hope a recall is started. I will be happy to pass them out and my name will be the first on the list.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
When you step into politics at any level, you open yourself up to personal attacks. And right or wrong, I think someone’s personal life is relevant to whether or not I will vote for them … how you handle yourself and what you say or do in your personal life says a lot about your values, your credibility, and your integrity as a person and as a politician.
Like a petulant child … just stomps his feet and says “IT’S NOT FAIR”! He’s just going to drag it out longer to distract from the real issues in Dearborn.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
My only gripe with Tom is he left church early the other week. Mass ends after the last song, not after communion:-)
December 1st, 2010 at 9:00 am
It’s time for a new council. The only truly qualified council members, Tafelski, Abraham and O’Donnell should stay. We need new faces with fresh, independent ideas who won’t just go with the flow (the administration). It’s a shame that name recognition is everything in Dearborn. We are facing major changes that will affect all of us. There are going to be hard decisions to make and we need strong people to get us through this. Most of the council won’t be able to stand up to the loud, opinionated Mayor. Unfortunately, elections are a few years away. Grow up Sarieni and keep your big mouth shut. It seems your a good proofreader as you always point out typos at Council meetings. Why don’t you look for a job in that field. Maybe you could work in the Dept. of Public Information. I understand they are short staffed.
December 1st, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Typical Dearborn. Clean it up. Get rid of the “good ‘ol boy” network and bring in some positivity. Dearborn will always continue to act as a dog chasing it’s tail. Look at the bigger picture. Name recognition should not dictate the outcome of elections.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:26 pm
cloe – it is not against the law to use someone’s personal life in a smear campaign … the legal issue is some of the lies that were spread. The email that I received with the picture, for example, was a real photo … not doctored in any way, from what Tafelski himself says … it did not have text that made any claims about where and when it was taken. You can smear someone’s reputation with the truth … as long as it is true (and you can prove it to be true), it’s not and shouldn’t be illegal … distasteful and unethical, maybe, but the truth is fair game.l
Tafelski isn’t learning his lesson here … if you can’t take the hits, don’t play the game … politics is never a nice game!
December 1st, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Drop the hammer Tom.
December 2nd, 2010 at 1:55 am
“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends!” Dearborn’s dirty politics, glad handing, back stabbing, and weak, patronizing politicians.
The view must be pretty good from the cheap seats for all of you that choose to take a back seat driver approach to Dearborn politics.
It’s all crap. Who will really speak their mind? Who will speak what’s on the mind of the residents of the city? Personal agendas have gripped this city’s political arena and gripped it something fierce.
Get rid of multi-lingual printing of all City publications. I believe the socially funded ethnic organizations/clubs can help their comrades out. Remove all stale politicians as their individual private agendas become apparent and public. Bring in residents that can effect change! NOT one at a time because that’s just one against the machine. Try three or four at a time. Revise the Charter for term limits! Revise the Charter for manned minumums of the police and fire departments if you wish. Revise the Charter for tax base, once again. Everyone will always feel slighted to some degree.
Get with it for cryin’ out loud. Can anyone make a stand or do they fear doing so for being labeled a “racist” or “discriminating person.” Cut the crap with all this “political correctness” and stand up for something.
Reclaim the truths and foundation that the City of Dearborn was built upon! Go ahead. I dare you!
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:18 pm
I’ll second that!!
December 6th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I’ll third that!!!
December 18th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Look in the mirror Tom. Bet your stomach is in Knott’s.