Santana.

DETROIT — Over the years, Harvey Santana has shown steadfast commitment to defending the region’s Arab and Muslim communities against hate. 

He has also been a champion for promoting diversity and understanding about immigrants, and other various ethnic groups. 

Santana, a democratic state representative for the 9th House District, is vying for a third term. He is squaring off against Dearborn Board of Education President Hussein Berry in the democratic primary and the winner will face republican James Stephens. Santana and Berry competed for the same seat in 2012.  The district comprises portions of both Detroit and Dearborn.  

Santana has spoke-out against republican-introduced anti-Sharia bills. He has also been very active in fighting against the abuses of minority groups by agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He supported the community when a Florida pastor planned to protest against Islam in Dearborn a few years ago.

His latest effort to help promote understanding of the community came when Michigan Republican National Committeman Dave Agema spewed hate towards Muslims. In an interview with The Arab American News about his reelection campaign and work as a legislator, Santana said he personally called Agema and offered to give him a tour of Dearborn and introduce him to Arab leaders, who could educate him about the culture and religion. 

“What keeps me going is my passion for public service and I’m truly enjoying the progress I am making,” Santana said. “I am totally focused on winning a third term in the House of Representatives, and the present responsibilities I have to my constituents.” 

Santana is the democratic vice chair of both the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. He is also a member of the Commerce and Michigan Competitiveness committees. 

A native Detroiter, Santana is a veteran of the United States Navy. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University, where he received a master’s degree in public administration. 

Harvey Santana: I have no tolerance for racism on any level.  I have always been an outspoken advocate for racial equality.  I have experienced racial discrimination in the past, and know first-hand the difficulties and challenges minorities are faced with.  Dave Agema’s comments were outrageous and have been almost universally condemned.  After he made them, I called him and had a long conversation with him about how misguided he was regarding his views of the Muslim community.  I offered to provide him with a tour of Dearborn and to introduce him to Arab leaders who could better present the Arab culture to him.  He declined.  I have always countered negative rhetoric aimed at any minority group.  There’s no room for racially insensitive remarks.

HS: I have a strong relationship with the Arab American community and have been involved in the Arab community my entire life.  I think my relationship with the Arab American community is respected and trusted.  Currently, I am working to capture funding for the American-Arab Chamber’s Tejara Global Business Development Center.  

HS: My efforts have largely focused on commerce.  Specifically, I’ve worked with business leaders to craft legislation to promote safety and enhance community relations within their businesses.  Also, I’ve visited McDonald and Oakman [elementary] schools on several occasions and have delivered motivational speeches to the students.  I’ve been focusing on reaching out to various groups to make them aware that I am always available to help and assist them however needed in their endeavors.

HS: Yes. Poor and minority urban areas have long been taken advantage of as far as having their homes and neighborhoods polluted as compared to rural and suburban areas.  Southwest Detroit is very industrial and this had led to many environmental challenges.  This area borders Dearborn and its pollution knows no municipal boundaries.  This issue is complex and warrants a larger discussion.  However, specifically related to this region, I have a long history of working on infrastructure projects in southwest Detroit.  I have a better understanding than most of the medical impacts this pollution is causing and I’m always willing to address the issue. Also, my staff has worked extensively with the office of Senator Morris Hood in combating environmental pollution in the area of Joy Road and Wyoming.  Actions have resulted in heavy fines and clean-up.  Problems of pollution can only be addressed through vigilance.  The Pollution Emergency Alerting System serves to receive information about environmental incidents via a toll-free hotline.  Residents are encouraged to call 800.292.4706.

HS: I am very proud of the [House] Detroit’s Recovery and Michigan’s Future Committee for  advancing an 11-bill package that would preserve the pensions of Michigan citizens.  I am also very proud of my bipartisan work in the Michigan Competitiveness Committee that vetted the Medicaid expansion legislation, eventually bringing expanded medical coverage to over 400,000 Michigan residents.  Most notably, however, is an event that occurred in October 2013.  I invited both the republican speaker of the house and the speaker pro-tem to my district with the expressed purpose of giving them an idea of what “a day in the life” of a real Detroiter was all about.  I gave them a tour of the 9th District that included Dearborn’s Shatila Bakery. I explained the story of how immigration and investment has strengthened the city of Dearborn.  That tour has led to a strong relationship with the Republican Party.  Because of this relationship, at a local level, I was able to secure $300,000 for Brennan Pools in Rouge Park.  I also successfully fought to save the Infant Mortality Prevention Program at Hutzel Women’s Hospital, to the tune of $3.7 million.  In addition, I have several pieces of legislation addressing our criminal justice system, a nine-bill domestic violence bill package which will be introduced prior to session ending for summer break, and several bills dealing with economic development.

HS: Yes.  One of the biggest hindrances to our recovery has been population loss.  Recently, I sponsored and successfully passed House Resolution 316, which urges the president and congress to support Michigan’s request for 50,000 EB-2 visas to assist in the economic recovery of southeast Michigan.  I was able to push this resolution through a committee, where the chair is extremely conservative, by working across the aisle in a diplomatic fashion.  These EB-2 visas will enable immigrants to come to our area who have specialized training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  Michigan will benefit greatly from having people with such training working within its boundaries.  

HS: The major concern my constituents have had concerning the Detroit bankruptcy is uncertainty.  What is going to happen to Detroit?  I’ve addressed this concern by acting quickly in working in a bi-partisan approach as one of only two Democrats named to the special committee by the speaker of the House to secure funding that will spur the process of resolving the bankruptcy. I helped lead the bankruptcy bill package out of this committee and onto the floor.  I worked in a diplomatic manner with both sides of the aisle, convincing legislators from both parties that this compromise needed to get done.  This led to an overwhelming demonstration of support by both parties when the bills came up for a floor vote. This “grand bargain” once approved by the legislature, will bring nearly $1 billion from state and private sources to protect pensioners from devastating cuts to their retirement income and preserve the treasures of the Detroit Institutes of Arts for all Michiganders.  I did not support the bankruptcy, but this was ultimately the decision that was made.  And while I may not have supported the bankruptcy, I was able to be a part of the solution in my role as a state legislator.  By acting quickly and decisively, the legislature has laid the groundwork for Detroit to emerge from bankruptcy stronger than ever.

HS: I am for equal rights for everyone.  This country was founded on the concept that everyone should be treated equally.  Recently, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman struck down Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban, declaring it unconstitutional.  Michigan’s Attorney General has decided to appeal this decision and so at this point, it is out of the legislature’s hands.  However, should this issue come before me in the House, I will review the public policy with complete fairness and open-mindedness.  Marijuana legalization is a multi-faceted topic.  Other states are experimenting with legalization, and I think we should wait and see how it plays out in those states.   Prohibition has never been a successful strategy.