Ficano Has No Plans To Resign Amid Severance Controversy
DETROIT (WWJ) - Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano is speaking out on the Turkia Mullin severance package controversy.
Ficano, who hired a lawyer to represent him in an FBI investigation of the deal, talked to WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting and other reporters following an appearance Thursday at the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce luncheon in West Bloomfield.
Amid calls for the county executive to resign, Ficano said he's staying put.
"Not at all. Not at all. I've not done anything wrong," he said.
Ficano said he does not know how many other county employees may have received the so-called "sweetheart" deals.
"I don't know how many ... there's a review being done of whatever there is that is in the process right now. But the only one that is like Miss. Mullin's ...hers was unique," Ficano said.
"As of now, the executive package that was reported is, has been suspended. Also, we're making announcements that I sent a letter to the retirement board to cut down the package for the 401K from the five to one (match) to one to one," Ficano said.
"Now the union, under collective bargaining, still has a four to one. We would have to negotiate that," he said.
The FBI served subpoenas at Wayne County headquarters in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, one day following word the bureau is investigating $200,000 in severance paid to Mullin when she left as Wayne County's development director to become CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Under much criticism, Mullin eventually paid back the severance. Following an internal investigation, Ficano announced last Friday that two county employees were suspended and another fired over the severance debacle.
