Carol Cain

Detroit Free Press Columnist

Robert Ficano says Gov. Rick Snyder is in a downward spiral over the lead-tainted water crisis in Flint that took place under his watch and his political survival is doubtful.

“It has caught attention nationally and with the deaths (Legionnaires’ disease linked to water), the e-mails, the unexplained slow reaction over months, I predict the internal finger pointing will come,” Ficano said. “He simply has impossible odds.”

“You cannot run government just with a spreadsheet,” Ficano added, chastising the Republican governor over the emergency manager in Flint he appointed who was in place during the switch from Detroit River water to Flint River water as a cost-saving measure for the financially strapped city.

Indeed, there were others from local, state and federal governments sitting on the sidelines as the man-made disaster unfolded.

Snyder is to testify before Congress on March 17 where undoubtedly more information about what transpired will become known.

Ficano knows a thing or two about going into survival mode when some of your employees have made mistakes and their mistakes come back to bite you.

Ficano, 63, a Democrat, served as Wayne County sheriff for 20 years and then Wayne County executive from 2002-14.

He lost his job as county executive in 2014 in part because of the scandals involving of some of his appointees who broke the law and went to jail.

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Of course, there were other issues plaguing him including the troubled jail project, finances of his county, and more.

The Wayne County scandals resulted in endless stories about appointees, kickbacks, and more, dominating headlines.

Ficano was never found guilty of anything.

“The U.S. attorney released a letter saying that I, and my administration, fully cooperated and had no culpability or connection what so ever in any wrongdoing,” he said.

Ficano, who has maintained a low profile since being voted out of office, appears to gearing up for a comeback.

He launched a new radio show, “Robert Ficano Unplugged,” in January. He can be heard Saturdays 1-2 p.m. on WFDF-AM (910).

He also has dipped his toes into the political pool to see whether he might have a chance with voters as he weighs a bid to run for Third Circuit Court judge.

He formed a committee and filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office. He has until April 19 to make his final decision on it.

Ficano said he’s been encouraged to run by other judges and a Michigan Supreme Court justice.

When asked what responsibility he bears for what went wrong in Wayne County, Ficano said, “I trusted some people who did not only let me down, but, more importantly, let the public down in their duties and responsibilities.”

“I am angry not only for their own inappropriate actions but the negative light they cast on so many others that worked hard for the county,” he added.

For now, talk of politics is what’s driving Ficano conversations Saturday afternoons on his radio show.

He’d love to have Snyder on as his guest.

“I do enjoy being on the other end of the microphone,” Ficano said.

He said he knows finding his way back to elected office won’t be easy.

“I know there is discussion of the past — what went wrong. But there is a lot that went right as well,” he said of his time as county executive and sheriff.

Ficano mentioned creation of the Cobo Authority that paved the way for the improved convention center. And he talked about his Chinese trade missions that brought some firms to Michigan, which increased investments like that from Nexteer.

“I have also shown compassion and fairness in my 32 years in public office,” he said. “I think I’d be a good judge.”

Carol Cain can be reached at 313-222-6732 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters” airing 11:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS 62. See Karl Rove, Jim Messina, L. Brooks Patterson and Brandon Dillon on today’s show.