DEARBORN — The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) released its official local endorsements Thursday for the upcoming election, but did not endorse a presidential candidate.

“We cant,” said AAPAC Endorsement Chair Abed Hammoud. “No request was received from either campaign.”

He said Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s campaign has expressed interest in an endorsement, but AAPAC bylaws require a written request for from presidential campaigns.

“AAPAC will not endorse any candidate running for any office, national or local, without a written request from the candidate or his or her campaign,” said AAPAC President Osama Siblani. “We put this requirement in our bylaws and we insist on it to protect the integrity and the interests of our community. Those candidates who are not willing to make the effort to request our support and pursue it respectfully are not worthy of our vote, regardless of who they are.”

AAPAC members discuss election endorsements at a Sept. 24 meeting held in the offices of The Arab American News in Dearborn.

Hammoud said some members asked for a deadline extension so they could pursue a letter from the Obama campaign.
“We agreed to wait a few days and extend the discussion,” Hammoud said.

A message was left for Obama’s Michigan Arab American outreach coordinator Rashida Tlaib seeking comment.

The group decided on a partial list of local endorsements on Sept. 24, but did not release them until making a final decision on the contentious races for Dearborn’s 19th District Court judgeship.

AAPAC held a forum on Wednesday featuring the two candidates in that race, incumbent Judge Mark Somers and challenger Candyce Abbatt.

Members voted Thursday to endorse Somers. Some dissented.

“He’s too strict in the courtroom,” said AAPAC member Bilal Debaja, who supports Abbatt. “We need someone who has a little more compassion.”

But the majority voted to stick with the by-the-book incumbent Somers.

Hammoud said the Wednesday forum served its purpose well.

“AAPAC did what it’s supposed to do. We did everything we could do to inform the community and our members, and it worked,” he said.

The group also endorsed Dearborn Board of Education candidates Aimee Blackburn and Mary Lane. Blackburn, an incumbent, and Lane, a former board member.

In the race for a seat on Michigan’s Supreme Court, AAPAC endorsed 3rd Circuit Court Judge Diane Marie Hathaway.

In the race for three open seats on Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court, AAPAC endorsed Lynne Pierce, Connie Marie Kelley and Daniel Hathaway.

In races for seats on the Wayne County Commission, the group endorsed 9th District candidate Diane Webb, D-Garden City, and 13th District incumbent Gary Woronchak, D-Dearborn.

In the race for Oakland County Treasurer, AAPAC endorsed Democrat Andy Meisner.

In other not-so-competitive races, AAPAC endorsed 15th District U.S. Rep. John Dingell, 15th District state Rep. Gino Polidori, 12th District state House Democratic nominee Rashida Tlaib, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, Wayne County Register of Deeds Bernard Youngblood and Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans.

“As president of AAPAC,” said Siblani, “once the members deliberate, discuss and finally make their decisions on endorsements, then my job becomes to make sure the endorsements translate into votes in the ballot box.

“Over the last 11 years, AAPAC has gained the trust and the confidence of Arab American voters. And this year will not be any different. We will take our endorsements to our community and, through literature, launch a very focused, honest campaign explaining why we endorsed each candidate as we ask Arab Americans for their vote. Our community knows that AAPAC’s decision to endorse any candidate is based solely on the interests of our community and no other special interests.

“Bilingual literature will be mailed to every registered voter in the battlefield.”