Meet Bob

Meet Bob

Ficano Picture 3

Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano served with distinction as Wayne County Sheriff for nearly 20 years before being elected to his current office in January 2003. County Executive Ficano presides over nearly 2 million citizens in the largest county in the state of Michigan and the eleventh largest county in the nation. Overseeing an annual budget of $2.2 billion, Mr. Ficano provides innovative leadership for the region and state, delivering services that citizens expect while aggressively pursuing investment, economic growth and job creation opportunities.

Mr. Ficano is known as a dedicated public servant committed to the people. His number one priority is helping to create new jobs and to retain existing jobs.

From an early age, Mr. Ficano learned to fill each day with integrity, purpose and honor. He was taught these lessons in his close-knit family of Italian immigrants. His parents and grandparents were proud union members who worked hard and gave back to their diverse community. His family instilled in him the importance of embracing and respecting those of diverse cultures, faiths and background.

A graduate of Livonia public schools, Mr. Ficano pursued his college education at Michigan State University earning a bachelors degree in 1974. Three years later, he earned a law degree from the University of Detroit Law School, and practiced law in the private sector before entering public service.

Mr. Ficano was Assistant City Attorney in the City of Westland before being elected Wayne County Sheriff in 1984, making him one of the youngest men in United States history to hold this position.

A tireless ambassador, he regularly meets with citizens, community leaders, labor leaders, the corporate community and other elected officials throughout the county, the State of Michigan and nationally to highlight and promote Wayne County.

Ficano has stood strong against raising taxes and has implemented innovations and cost savings that have allowed County government to do more with less. Right sizing the County’s workforce and cutting County employee salaries (including his own) has been painful, but it’s been necessary to make sure that County government operates within its budget and is respectful of the personal sacrifices that so many Wayne County residents were forced to make as well.

Ficano is proud of the many job creation and retention achievements that have been made under his administration, which include saving the Detroit Auto Show by establishing a regional authority to renovate, expand and run Cobo Hall and creating the Aerotropolis region around Metro Airport which has the potential of creating 64,000 new transportation industry jobs.

In Wayne County, our legacy is unique, strong and important and because of our resilient and remarkable history, Ficano is confident that our future can and will be bright.

County Executive Ficano is the proud father of two children and resides in Livonia.

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