Voters go to the polls next Tuesday, August 4, for the city of Dearborn’s primary election. Twenty five candidates will vie for 14 spots on the ballot in the November 3 general election, when seven of them will be voted in to seats on the city council. An unprecedented eight candidates are of Arab descent in the city council primary. This is an unprecedented number of Arab American candidates and it would be a shame if turnout is low. Dearborn’s races for mayor and city clerk are not included in the primary this year.

There is a lot of fresh blood on the ballot this year as well as four reliable incumbents who have shown they care about the Arab American community. The Arab American News urges everyone to get out and vote. Polls are open August 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. With pleasure The Arab American News endorses the following candidates. We recommend voters choose seven out of the following ten.

Robert Abraham

Robert A. Abraham is an incumbent campaigning for re-election to his third term. This 42-year-old Fordson High School graduate of Lebanese descent is the chief financial officer for Allied Metals in Troy. Abraham wants to continue working on initiatives such as the neighborhood stabilization program, which uses funds to keep houses in good condition, and to solve foreclosure-related problems by purchasing and re-distributing properties.
He also stressed the importance of working with residents to solve problems and wants to invest more in the technological infrastructure of the city, specifically the business district. Abraham’s experience and leadership ability will enable him to work through the problems the city is facing from an economic standpoint.

George Darany

George T. Darany is finishing up his first term on City Council and believes that there is much to be done to keep Dearborn strong in the coming years. The 50-year-old councilman and former City of Dearborn consultant and realtor of Syrian and Lebanese descent has the experience and education in economics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn to help him navigate the coming storm of economy-related issues. Darany was the Dearborn Goodfellows president in 2008-2009 and the Rotarian of the Year award winner for 2008-2009. He has also volunteered for various local causes including Meals on Wheels and the Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive.

David W. Bazzy

David W. Bazzy is a 51-year-old lifelong Dearborn resident and is president and COO of Kenwal steel company and Kenwal pickling company in Dearborn. He has served as the Dearborn Recreation Commissioner for six years and was on the zoning board of appeals for six years. He was also the city’s charter commissioner, re-writing the charter in 2005 that was adopted by voters in 2007. Bazzy, whose family originally hailed from Bint Jbeil in Lebanon, wants to use his business background to re-energize business in the city.

Suzanne Sareini

Suzanne Sareini is currently serving her fifth term on Dearborn City Council. Sareini cites home foreclosures as a huge issue facing Dearborn, but said that city leadership has taken steps to address the problem. She believes that changes to the budgeting system to make it more goal-oriented and focused during her term have helped the city weather the economic crisis.

Khalil Daklallah

Khalil Daklallah is a 33 year Dearborn resident who has been involved in city government for around 14 years. Daklallah, age 53, works as a student services liaison for Dearborn Public Schools and has been a volunteer reserve police officer as well as a park ranger/manager for Dearborn’s recreation department.

Rabih Hammoud

Rabih Hammoud, a 33-year-old prospective pilot at Eastern Michigan University and a general manager of Summit Automotive in Dearborn, believes that the City Council is in need of a long-overdue change. Hammoud, who is Lebanese, believes that more should be done to attract businesses and to expand the city’s tax base the way Allen Park has done, for example. He believes that Dearborn’s diversity should be emphasized and celebrated and that residents need to work together to iron out issues.

Ali Sayed

Ali Sayed, a lifelong Dearborn resident, is the founder of HYPE Athletics, a popular recreational program in Dearborn and other communities in Wayne County. He believes the experience will help him on the City Council. Sayed believes that retaining and attracting businesses is paramount in the economic climate.

Hussein Sobh

Hussein Sobh, the 55-year-old owner of Cedarland restaurant in Dearborn, is a 34-year resident and community leader who wants to restore a personal touch to the City Council. He believes that the council needs some new blood and fresh ideas, and wants to bring more visibility to the position and to interact more with citizens for their input on problems. Sobh, who is Lebanese, has a Master’s Degree in finance from West Virginia University and wants to use those skills to help solve the budget problems and foreclosure issues plaguing Dearborn. He believes that taxes are too high and that a crackdown on crime is vital for the city and wants to address problems like auto thefts and break-ins that are plaguing the city, especially along Warren Avenue.

George Hart

George Hart is the most experienced public servant among the City Council candidates and has worked with many of Dearborn’s biggest political names. The 82-year-old Armenian American was a member of the City Council from 1957-1971 and then went on to become a state senator for 20 years and Wayne County commissioner for 7 years.

Nancy Hubbard

Finally, Nancy A. Hubbard is an incumbent council member and president pro tem. She is proud of the neighborhood stabilization program and the Oakwood project on Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road, but acknowledges tough budget decisions ahead.
Vote on August 4th!