Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun faces financial penalties from Wayne County for failing to submit required campaign finance reports. County records indicate that Baydoun did not file his post-primary and pre-general reports by their respective deadlines, prompting the imposition of a fine.
The campaign finance reports are crucial as they disclose the financial activities of Baydoun’s campaign, including the total funds raised and expenditures. As of October 31, 2023, the last report was due two months earlier, leaving the public without insight into the financial dealings of his campaign since July 20, 2023. Prior to that date, Baydoun had raised approximately $210,297 and spent around $132,000, a notable amount for a city with a population of about 60,600 residents.
Despite earlier notifications from the county, Baydoun had not submitted the reports by the deadline. On October 2, the Wayne County Clerk’s campaign finance manager issued a notice informing him of his failure to file the post-primary report, which was due on September 4. This resulted in a $500 fine, which records indicate remains unpaid. A subsequent notification on October 27 warned Baydoun that he could incur another $500 fine if the pre-general report, due on October 24, was not filed within 20 days.
In addition to the fines, Baydoun was assessed a $50 fee for the late filing of his pre-primary report, which he submitted on July 29. The management of campaign finance at the county level identified various errors and omissions in his pre-primary report. These included failing to disclose the occupations of eight contributors and not itemizing significant expenditures, among other issues.
Baydoun, who succeeded Bill Bazzi as mayor in October 2023 after Bazzi’s appointment as ambassador to Tunisia, is currently serving the remainder of Bazzi’s four-year term, which concludes on December 31, 2023. Following his victory in the November 4 mayoral election against Denise Malinowski Maxwell, Baydoun is set to begin a new four-year term in January.
In a broader context, the Michigan Campaign Finance Act outlines strict penalties for candidates who fail to file required statements. According to the act, a candidate could face a misdemeanor charge or be barred from taking office if two statements are not submitted. As of now, there has been no referral to the Michigan Department of State for further action regarding Baydoun’s situation, as confirmed by the press secretary for the state Attorney General’s office.
The implications of these failures to comply with campaign finance regulations could affect Baydoun’s political future. Meanwhile, his opponent, Maxwell, successfully filed her campaign reports and received a reporting waiver from the Wayne County Clerk’s office, indicating that her fundraising fell below the required threshold for detailed reporting.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains critical for candidates to adhere to campaign finance laws to ensure transparency and maintain public trust. The outcome of Baydoun’s case may set precedents for how similar situations are handled in the future.