Former commissioner not surprised by Fouts' alleged comments | FOX 2 Detroit

Former commissioner not surprised by Fouts' alleged comments

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Other than Facebook, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts isn’t talking about explosive audio recording where he allegedly uses offensive language to described the mentally challenged. Those who work with the disabled aren’t keeping quiet about their disgust over those comments.

Although the recordings are yet to be verified, Lanette Olejniczak says she has no doubt in her mind that it’s Warren Mayor Jim Fouts making highly offensive comments.

How does she know? She claims she’s heard Fouts speak like that before. As a teacher of special needs students for the last 20 years, Olejniczak couldn’t be more disgusted.

“He was a school teacher too. We teach anti-bullying in schools. We teach tolerance in schools and here is a role-model, a leader not being tolerant and he is bullying.”

“He should definitely step down. How can you look up to someone who doesn't respect the people who are voting for him?”

We have yet to hear from the Warren Mayor who did not emerge from his home or office Friday. Now one was sure if he was even there.

His assistant says the Mayor stands by his Facebook post – where he claims the person on those recordings wasn’t him. He questions the validity of the recordings and claims Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel has the equipment to manipulate.

The battle between Hackle and Fouts began earlier this fall, when Fouts accused Hackel of a major environmental scandal.

Sick of the false claims – Hackel released the tapes he claims he received from a fed up staff member of Fouts, who was sick of the Mayor’s antics.


“I couldn’t be more disgusted by this information that was passed along to me that I passed along to others. What he wants to say is completely up to him, but I think he’s going to have to answer to whether or not these are real,” aid Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.

Olejniczak admits having her issues with Fouts in the past – even suing the city of Warren at one point – but the former Commissioner believes the Mayor’s behavior is unacceptable.

“It is not about my history with the Mayor, it is about the fact people deserve respect. These are human beings and no one deserves to be called names or be talked to in such a negative manner.”

As of 10:00 p.m. Friday, we had still not heard from Mayor Fouts.