List includes 44 candidates for various offices across Michigan

DEARBORN — The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) held its final endorsement meeting on Tuesday, October 12 at the offices of The Arab American News in Dearborn, during which candidates were selected for placement on the organization’s voting slate for the upcoming Tuesday, November 2 general elections in the state of Michigan.

During the meeting, AAPAC members voted on the endorsements, with a 2/3 majority required for a candidate to be selected.

In order to be considered, candidates first had to submit a request in writing to the organization.  AAPAC also conducted individual interviews with selected candidates that were attended by members and open to the public at large.

The final endorsement vote featured intense, thorough debates for many of the upcoming races. In the end, decisions were made with the ultimate goal of putting the best interests of the community first.

AAPAC Membership Committee Chair Rashid Baydoun spoke about the meeting and the upcoming election.

“Once again AAPAC had a constructive dialogue among its members that stressed the importance of choosing the right candidates,” he said.

“Every year we hear about how crucial each election is but this year it really is crucial, frankly in light of all that’s happening with anti-Arab and anti-Islamic rhetoric out there it’s important to make a conscientious decision to actually get out there and vote.

AAPAC Chair of Endorsements Tina Farhat also spoke about the process.

“The officials we are endorsing this year (our judges, state representatives, and other local leaders) are the ones whose policies will impact our daily lives the most. Ironically, these are the very elections that generate the least amount of response with regards to voter turnout.”

Farhat hopes that this year will see an upswing in the vote as AAPAC continues to serve the community as a trusted source of voting information.

“It is our aim to get our community out to vote.  AAPAC has done what it has always done: endorsed leaders we believe will support our community to the best of their abilities.  The next step in the process is for our community to take to the polls and demonstrate our determination for solid leadership.  Our success is measured one vote at a time.”

AAPAC will mail newsletters listing all its endorsees to Arab American registered voters and will also print out and distribute voting slates for people to take to the polls, which are allowed at the ballot boxes. Volunteers will also man the polls where Arab American voters are concentrated. 

For the upcoming election, absentee voters can pick up a ballot up until October 30 at the office, which is located at 13615 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, where they can be filled out and mailed. The office will be open from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on October 30 and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on regular business days. It is recommended that absentee voters bring their ballots back to the clerk’s office rather than mailing them after October 30 if possible.  They can also be returned to the office by 8 p.m. on November 2.

AAPAC’s 13th Annual “Strength in Unity” Banquet will be held on Friday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Bint Jebail Cultural Center at 6220 Miller Road in Dearborn. For reservations or more info, call 313.582.4888.

Here are the 2010 AAPAC endorsements for the November 2 general election:

Statewide Races

Governor

• Virg Bernero (D)

Bernero, the current mayor of Lansing, has reached out to the Arab American community in the weeks and months leading up to the election, meeting with community leaders and pledging his support.

He and running mate Brenda Lawrence, a fellow mayor of the city of Southfield, stand by their cities’ balanced budgets and tout their government experience as a key advantage in the race for governor against Republican Rick Snyder, who is running alongside Brian Calley.

The winner will replace term-limited outgoing Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat.

Secretary of State

• Jocelyn Benson (D)

A law professor at Wayne State, Benson teaches election law and has published the first major book on the best non-partisan practices of the Secretary of State in enforcing election and campaign finance laws. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, Oxford University, and Harvard Law and is up against Republican Ruth Johnson for the seat, which is currently held by Republican Terry Lynn Land, who is term limited and cannot run again.

Michigan Supreme Court

• Denise Langford Morris

• Alton Thomas Davis

MSU Trustee

• Dennis Denno (D)

Denno, the only Arab American candidate for MSU Trustee, is an advisory board member of the MSU Arabic Language Instruction Flagship Program who has worked 11 years in the Michigan legislature.

WSU Board of Governors

• Ed Bruley (D)

County Races

Wayne County Executive

• Robert Ficano (D)

Ficano, running for re-election and endorsed by the UAW, Teamsters, and politicians such as Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Michigan Congressman John Dingell among others, is another long-time supporter of the Arab American community.  Ficano will face Republican Mario Nesr Fundarski.

Wayne County Sheriff

• Benny Napoleon (D)

Napoleon, the current sheriff, joined the Detroit Police Department in 1975 and worked his way up to deputy chief in 1994 before becoming chief in 1998.  He will face off with Republican Shelly Milton.

Wayne County Commissioner 3rd District

• Martha G. Scott (D)

The current state senator for District 2, Scott is challenging for this seat, which covers the northeast section of Detroit and the cities of Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods, and five Grosse Pointe communities. She was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1994 through 2001. Scott will not have a Republican opponent.

Wayne County Commissioner 9th District

• Diane L. Webb (D)

Webb is seeking re-election after winning in 2008 by receiving more than twice as many votes as competitor Mark Slater. District 9 covers Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and Redford Township. She has been endorsed by Michigan Congressman John Dingell and Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko among others. Webb does not have a Republican opponent.

Wayne County Commissioner 13th District

• Gary Woronchak (D)

Woronchak of Dearborn, the incumbent, will face challenger and Republican Scott Saionz. The district includes Dearborn, Melvindale, and Allen Park.

Circuit Court RACES

Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court- Open Seat

• John R. Sullivan

Sullivan will compete with Dearborn resident Susan L. Hubbard for the seat.

Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court

• Brian Sullivan

• Eric Cholack

• Mark Slavens

• Margie R. Braxton

• Shiela Gibson Manning

• Timothy M. Kenny

• David Alan Groner

• Lita Popke

• James Chylinski

• Patricia Fresard

• Michael Hathaway

• Jeanne Stempien

U.S. Congressional Races

U.S. Congress 15th District

• John Dingell (D)

The U.S. House’s longest-serving member and a Dearborn resident, Dingell is currently engaged in a tighter-than-expected battle with Republican Rob Steele for the seat he has held since 1955. Dingell is a long-time friend of the Arab American community. His district encompasses west Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Taylor, Ann Arbor, and four other cities.

U.S. Congress 14th District

• John Conyers Jr. (D)

Conyers, the incumbent, is running to retain his seat against Republican challenger Don Ukrainec. He is the second-longest tenured member of the U.S. House and has been a friend to the Arab American community who has stood up against anti-Muslim intolerance.

U.S. Congress 11th District

• Natalie Mosher (D)

Mosher is trying to become the first Democrat to be elected in the district since 1965. She is bidding to unseat incumbent Thaddeus McCotter in a district that includes cities such as Livonia, Novi, Canton, Westland, Garden City, Redford, and a small part of Dearborn Heights. Mosher, a former schoolteacher and county commissioner in Ohio, has also made a great effort to reach out to the Arab American community. 

State Senate Races

State Senate 3rd District

• Morris Hood (D)

The Detroit native emerged from a crowded field of quality candidates in the primaries for this seat that covers the part of Detroit just north of Dearborn. Hood, who was an 11th district state senator from 2002-2008 before becoming term limited, will face Republican Doug Mitchell for the seat in a bid to replace term-limited incumbent Irma Clark-Coleman.

State Senate-7th District

• Kathleen Law (D)

The former 23rd district state senator is hoping to win this seat that was vacated by term-limited Republican Bruce Patterson. Law will face off against Republican Patrick J. Colbeck on November 2.

State Representative  Races

State Rep. 10th District

• Harvey Santana (D)

Santana is hoping to represent the lower half of northwest Detroit. He has a background in urban planning and transportation in the private sector, having worked on three of Michigan’s largest transportation projects. Santana’s opponent will be Republican Jasmine Ford.

State Rep. 12th District

• Rashida Tlaib (D)

The incumbent Tlaib became the first Muslim woman to serve in the Michigan legislature in November 2008 when she was elected and she is hoping to be re-elected to her post in southwest Detroit, where she grew up. The daughter of Palestinian immigrants, Tlaib has a B.A. in Political Science from Wayne State University and a law degree from the Thomas Cooley Law School.

Tlaib will compete against challenger and Republican Darren Daigle.

State Rep. 15th District

• Suzanne Sareini (R)

Sareini has been a member of Dearborn City Council since 1989 and is a lifelong resident of Dearborn. She is a Lebanese Muslim and a founding member of the Lebanese American Heritage Club. Sareini graduated from Fordson High School in 1969 and is facing off with another well-known community figure in fellow councilman George Darany for term-limited Gino Polidori’s seat. The district covers the entire city of Dearborn.

State Rep. 17th District

• Phil Cavanagh (D)

An attorney who represented his home city of Redford for eight years on the Wayne County Commission before falling short in a bid for county treasurer, Phil Cavanagh currently runs a consulting business that focuses on bringing jobs to the state.

Republican Mike Adams will be his opponent for term-limited Andy Dillon’s seat, which covers Redford, the north part of Dearborn Heights, and other areas.

District Court Judges

36th District Court Judge

• B. Pennie Millender

• Katherine Hansen 

• Lydia Nance Adams          

• Izetta Bright           

• Wendy M. Readous           

• Ruth Carter

• Paula Humphries   

• Leonia Lloyd          

• Cylenthia LaToye Miller   

CITY Races

Dearborn Heights City Council

• Kathleen Abdel-Hak

Abdel-Hak, who is married to Zouhair Abdel-Hak and co-owns NJ Diamonds in Dearborn with him, will face Ned Apigian for the open seat.

Dearborn Public School Board

• James Schoolmaster

Schoolmaster, an incumbent, will try to maintain his seat against challenger Roxanne McDonald.