Hamtramck considers banning LGBTQ Pride flag from city property

This is Russ Gordon's first entry into running for elected office. He previously served as an appointee on the Human Relations Commission. 

As of June 4, 2025, Russ Gordon did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Healthcare

Supports restoring 18 flagpoles on Jos. Campau to display flags from around the world.

Opposes the banning of the Pride flag in Hamtramck, saying it represents the city's gay community.

- Supports restoring 18 flagpoles on Jos. Campau to display flags from around the world.
- Opposes the banning of the Pride flag in Hamtramck, saying it represents the city's gay community.

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

Transportation & Infrastructure

Ethics & Conduct

Russ Gordon

As of June 12, 2025, Russ Gordon did not have a website or any information online.

As a human relations commissioner, displayed a Pride flag on public property, which was removed by police after a councilman complained.

Supports restoring 18 flagpoles that line Jos. Campau from Caniff to Carpenter to display flags from around the world.

Buket Urgen

Candidate deadline nears to file for mayor, council | Hamtramck ...

Abdulmalik Yahya Kassim’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics.

As of June 4, 2025, Abdulmalik Kassim did not have a website or any information online.

Abdulmalik Kassim

As of June 12, 2025, Abdulmalik Kassim did not have a website or any information online.

Residency question lingers | Hamtramck Review

Abu A. Musa has a wife and two daughters.

Hamtramck Swears in New Council Member Abu Musa Bhai to Fill ...

Abu is currently a member of the Hamtramck City Council. He was appointed to fill an empty seat in March 2023.

Hamtramck council passes resolution supporting boycotting and ...

As a city council member, supported a resolution to boycott and divest from companies doing business with Israel.

- As a city council member, supported a resolution to boycott and divest from companies doing business with Israel.

As of June 4, 2025, Abu A. Musa did not have a website or any information online.

Hamtramck investigator: 2 Hamtramck councilmen live outside city

Was investigated for living outside of Hamtramck, but the investigation found that he lives in Hamtramck.

Musa's candidacy is currently being re-evaluated as a private investigator claims he lives in Warren, not Hamtramck.

- Musa's candidacy is currently being re-evaluated as a private investigator claims he lives in Warren, not Hamtramck.

Abu A. Musa

As of June 12, 2025, Abu A. Musa did not have a website or any information online.

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Abu A. Musa is from Hamtramck, Michigan. He resides in Hamtramck at 11632 Gallagher, where he benefits from a 100-percent Homestead tax exemption. His wife and their two daughters live in Warren, Michigan. Musa and his wife have two daughters.

Abu A. Musa is a councilmember on the Hamtramck City Council. He has held this position for more than a decade. He previously served as mayor pro tem before his removal from that role.

Abu A. Musa is currently a member of the Hamtramck City Council. He was sworn in to fill a vacant seat in March 2023 following the resignation of Council member Amanda Jaczkowski. He later served as mayor pro tem but was removed from that position.

Diane Elizabeth Frkan has more than 30 years of experience in admin work, sales, marketing, and management.

Hamtramck's election season has now begun | Hamtramck Review

Diane's campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

As of June 4, 2025, Diane Elizabeth Frkan did not have a website or any information online.

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Diane Elizabeth Frkan

Diane Elizabeth Frkan's campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is her first entry into politics.

As of June 12, 2025, Diane Elizabeth Frkan did not have a website or any information online.

Former city official on a mission to clean up this town | Hamtramck ...

Joseph Strzalka bought his home in Hamtramck 30 years ago and lives with family in the Jacob Street neighborhood.

Joseph previously worked as a former foreign service officer at the U.S. Department of State, where he served from 2003 through 2022. He began his professional career at the Michigan Department of Agriculture from 2000 to 2003, where he coordinated experts to replant trees lost to severe weather.

Joseph previously served as a Hamtramck City Councilmember from 2000 to 2003.

As of June 4, 2025, Joseph A. Strzalka did not have a website or any information online.

As a city council member, approved a housing plan that allowed the city to settle a housing discrimination lawsuit.

- As a city council member, approved a housing plan that allowed the city to settle a housing discrimination lawsuit.

As a city commissioner, helped approve a housing plan that settled a housing discrimination lawsuit, and helped elect a charter commission that rewrote the city charter.

As a city council member, helped elect a charter commission that rewrote the city charter.

- As a city council member, helped elect a charter commission that rewrote the city charter.

Believes littering is a global issue that needs to be addressed.

- Believes littering is a global issue that needs to be addressed.

Joseph A. Strzalka

As of June 12, 2025, Joseph A. Strzalka did not have a website or any information online.

Joseph is from Hamtramck, Michigan. He attended Wayne State University, where he earned a law degree in law. He retired as an attorney from the U.S. State Department. He bought his home in Hamtramck 30 years ago and lives with family in the Jacob Street neighborhood. He has deep roots in Hamtramck, with family members having lived in the city for over 100 years. He has also been active in local cleanup efforts, personally taking on trash pickup rounds around his neighborhood.

Joseph A. Strzalka is a former foreign service officer at the U.S. Department of State, where he served from 2003 through 2022. In that role, he performed consular affairs, negotiated international incidents, and represented the U.S. at formal state dinners. He spent most of his career managing up to 100 people in the management section, overseeing budgets, general services, customs, shipping, human resources, and facilities. He worked at U.S. embassies in Guatemala, Lithuania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Turkmenistan, and Mexico. He also spent two years in Washington, D.C., assisting embassies across Africa and leading the team that reopened the U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia. He began his professional career at the Michigan Department of Agriculture from 2000 to 2003, where he coordinated experts to replant trees lost to severe weather.

Joseph A. Strzalka’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member marks his return to elected office. He previously served as a Hamtramck City Councilmember from 2000 to 2003, resigning to accept a position with the U. S. State Department. Having recently retired from the State Department, he is again seeking a seat on the council.

As of June 11, 2025, Joseph A. Strzalka 1’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Joseph A. Strzalka 1

Joseph A. Strzalka is from Hamtramck, Michigan. He began attending night school at Wayne State University, and thirty years ago he purchased his home on Jacob Street in Hamtramck. Like many residents, he has had family members living in the city for over a century. Strzalka has taken it upon himself to conduct local trash pickup rounds, and he has often spoken about his love for Hamtramck’s walkable character and close-knit neighborhood feel.

Joseph A. Strzalka is a management section supervisor at the U.S. Department of State, where he worked from 2003 through 2022. In that role, he managed teams of up to 100 people, overseeing budgets, general services, customs, shipping, human resources and facilities. Earlier in his career, he worked at the Michigan Department of Agriculture, where he coordinated a wide range of experts to start replanting trees that had been lost.

Joseph A. Strzalka 1’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member marks his return to elected office. Strzalka previously served as a member of the City Council from 2000 to 2003, when he resigned to join the U.S. State Department after being hired. He recently retired from the U.S. State Department and is once again seeking a seat on the council.

As of June 4, 2025, Joseph A. Strzalka 1’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "I think now that we know it is going forward, it is best to let the justice system prevail. Based on the rumors we have heard, it doesn’t look good for the accused; (however) no one should rush to judgment until we see the evidence."

Supports community involvement in public services, as demonstrated by his local trash pickup efforts.

Zoning Board of Appeals - Hamtramck, City (Wayne, MI)

City finds more candidates to boot from the election | Hamtramck ...

Khalid Al Qsaimi's campaign for Hamtramck City Council member is his first entry into elected office. 

As of June 4, 2025, Khalid Al Qsaimi did not have a website or any information online.

Believes community involvement and transparency are essential for effective governance.

- Believes community involvement and transparency are essential for effective governance.

Khalid Al Qsaimi

Khalid Al Qsaimi is currently a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, responsible for hearing and deciding appeals, applications for special permits, and petitions for variances in accordance with the law. His campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into elected office. Qsaimi is one of 15 candidates seeking one of three seats on the council.

As of June 12, 2025, Khalid Al Qsaimi did not have a website or any information online.

Luqman Mohamed Saleh’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics. 

As of June 4, 2025, Luqman Saleh did not have a website or any information online.

Luqman Saleh

Luqman Mohamed Saleh’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics. He is one of 15 candidates seeking one of three open seats on the council.

As of June 12, 2025, Luqman Saleh did not have a website or any information online.

As of June 11, 2025, Luqman Saleh 1 did not have a website or any information online.

Luqman Saleh 1

Mahfuzur Rahman’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics. 

As of June 4, 2025, Mahfuzur Rahman did not have a website or any information online.

Mahfuzur Rahman

As of June 12, 2025, Mahfuzur Rahman did not have a website or any information online.

Mahfuzur Rahman’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics. He beat the deadline on Tuesday to file for the primary election ballot and is among a group of new council candidates that also includes Diane Elizabeth Frkan, Razaul Karim Choudhury, Khalid Al Qsaimi, Motahar Abdo Fadhel, Yousuf Saed, Mohammed Aimon Islam, Arif Arman Jisan, Abdulmalik Yahya Kassim, Luqman Mohamed Saleh, and Najib Muthana.

Motahar Abdo Fadhel’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council member is his first entry into politics. He was appointed to Hamtramck's housing commission.

As of June 4, 2025, Motahar Fadhel did not have a website or any information online.

Motahar Fadhel

As of June 12, 2025, Motahar Fadhel did not have a website or any information online.

Motahar Abdo Fadhel’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council member is his first entry into politics.

Hamtramck: First All-Muslim City Government ... - Haq's Musings

Councilman Perrotta removed as Hamtramck mayor pro tem

Nayeem L. Choudhury is currently chairman of the Hamtramck City Council. He was elected in 2021 and began his term in January 2022.

As of June 4, 2025, Nayeem L. Choudhury did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes the display of the Pride flag on government property, saying it "clashes with the beliefs of some members of [the Muslim] faith."

- Opposes the display of the Pride flag on government property, saying it "clashes with the beliefs of some members of [the Muslim] faith."

Nayeem L. Choudhury

As of June 12, 2025, Nayeem L. Choudhury did not have a website or any information online.

Nayeem L. Choudhury serves as the chair of the Hamtramck City Council. He originally joined the council as a member and was selected by his colleagues as mayor pro tem in a meeting from which he was briefly absent.

Nayeem L. Choudhury is currently chairman of the Hamtramck City Council. He was elected in 2021 and began his term in January 2022, serving his first term in office. He is chair of the city council.

As of June 12, 2025, Nayeem L. Choudhury’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of June 4, 2025, Nayeem L. Choudhury’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As a city council member, voted to display only five flags, including the American flag, the Michigan flag and one that represents the native countries of immigrant residents.

Opposes the display of the Pride flag on government property.

2 cities within Detroit had very different population changes ...

Rezaul Chowdhury emigrated to the United States from Bangladesh in 2000. He moved to Hamtramck six years ago from Virginia.

Rezaul Chowdhury: A Day in the Life of a Trusted Connector ...

Global Ties Detroit Brings Bangladeshi Delegation to Hamtramck ...

Rezaul Chowdhury is a community engagement specialist at Global Detroit, where he serves as a liaison between the Banglatown neighborhood, small business owners, and public agencies. 



Hamtramck voters to see four Muslim candidates compete for mayor ...

Rezaul’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics. 

As of June 4, 2025, Rezaul Chowdhury did not have a website or any information online.

Rezaul Chowdhury

Rezaul is a community engagement specialist at Global Detroit.

As of June 12, 2025, Rezaul Chowdhury did not have a website or any information online.

Rezaul Chowdhury is a resident of Hamtramck, Michigan. He emigrated to the United States from Bangladesh in 2000. He moved to Hamtramck six years ago from Virginia, drawn by the city’s opportunities and affordable housing near his family’s home in metro Detroit. He has described Hamtramck as a “landing port” for new immigrants.

Rezaul Chowdhury is a community engagement specialist at Global Detroit, where he serves as a liaison between the Banglatown neighborhood, small business owners, and public agencies. Each day, he visits local shops and meets with community members to help them navigate permits, funding applications, and other resources to support their businesses and daily needs. He has led an outreach campaign to ensure that Bangladeshi residents in Detroit and Hamtramck were accurately counted in the census. He also leads guided tours through Hamtramck City Hall for visiting delegations, introducing them to local government services and opportunities.

Rezaul Chowdhury’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics. Chowdhury is one of 12 candidates competing in the August primary for one of three open seats on the Hamtramck City Council.

As of June 12, 2025, Rezaul Chowdhury’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of June 4, 2025, Rezaul Chowdhury’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports affordable housing and maintaining low living costs in Hamtramck to attract and retain new immigrants.

City Council candidates talk about why voters should support them ...

Yousuf Saed ran for Hamtramck City Council member in 2023 but did not win. 

As of June 4, 2025, Yousuf Saed did not have a website or any information online.

Yousuf Saed

As of June 12, 2025, Yousuf Saed did not have a website or any information online.

Yousuf Saed’s campaign for Hamtramck City Council Member is his first entry into politics.

Supports enhancing the standard of living.

Supports reducing property taxes and increasing business developments.

- City council members in Michigan help make city-level laws, approve budgets, and oversee city services to serve the community’s needs. 
- Council members attend regular meetings, listen to public concerns, and vote on city issues like zoning, public safety, and spending. They also appoint and direct officials, like the city manager.
- City council members may be elected in partisan elections or nonpartisan elections, depending on the city. They may represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Terms for city council members often last two or four years, depending on the city.