For many of the races in the upcoming August 5 primary, it will be your last chance to choose in this election cycle. The county executive, the State Legislature and U.S. Congress seats in Wayne County will be decided next week, not in November. 

Wayne is an overwhelmingly “blue” county. Hence, democratic nominees who are elected in August are almost guaranteed the seats they seek. 

We urge our readers to make their choices known before it’s too late. Your vote counts, especially in such a decisive primary election, where a handful of votes could put a candidate in office and subsequently determine the future of our state and county. 

In Dearborn’s last municipal election, 32 votes earned Susan Dabaja the city council presidency. Such a small margin, which could be created by you, your friends and family on Tuesday, can also decide the policies that govern our society for years.

Our votes in each election increase the community’s impact on the political landscape of the region. 

When we turn out in large numbers and create a voting bloc, politicians cannot overlook us. They will have to recognize our interests and answer to our concerns. The power of the Arab vote is already manifesting itself. Let us grow it. 

In the lead up to this election, most candidates have held fundraisers and groomed friends in Dearborn and tried to appeal to the Arab American community, pledging to be committed to diversity if elected. 

But it is not only about the influence of the Arab community. Society as a whole improves when all of its segments are represented. Your vote represents you. Cast it.  

With the ongoing U.S.-funded Israeli war on Gaza, Arab American frustration with Washington is at its peak. This biased foreign policy towards our homelands, the eroding of our civil rights and unfair immigration laws may discourage some residents from being involved in U.S. politics. 

Despite changes in Congress and the White House, U.S. foreign policy towards the Arab World has not changed much over the past few decades. However, our interest in the politics of our countries of origin should not distract us from local concerns. As former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill said: “All politics is local.”

Change at the local level is possible, and we need to invest in this area, as Arab Americans. Let us start the change in our own backyards — our cities, municipalities, counties and schools — by showing up to the polls on Tuesday, August 5.

The county executive race is one that’ll mostly likely be decided on Tuesday, given the county’s democratic leanings. It’s also one of the most important local offices. In recent weeks, we’ve interviewed the four leading candidates in this race: Evans, the former Wayne County Sheriff and Detroit Police Chief; incumbent Robert Ficano; State Rep. Phil Cavanagh and Westland Mayor Bill Wild.

When we made the decision to endorse Evans, we held the well-being of the county and the interest of the community as priorities. All of our endorsements go to qualified candidates.

Each leading candidate reassured our community that he will engage and hire Arab Americans in his administration. 

Ficano has a track record of promoting diversity and bringing Arab Americans to participate in the conversation and become partners in the decision-making process. We thank him for his efforts. However, the scandals that rocked his administration, including the corruption convictions of some of his top aides, have diminished the public trust in him, according to public opinion polls that show him lagging behind the other top candidates. 

While we acknowledge that the local mainstream media have unfairly exaggerated Ficano’s shortcomings and overlooked his accomplishments, we believe that the county needs an executive who can restore faith in government. 

Wild has a relatively young political career, but shows great potential. He has successfully balanced the budget in his city and earned the trust of his constituents. However, Wayne County is much bigger and more complicated than the Westland. 

Cavanagh is also a great public servant, but he lacks the executive experience to run the county.

As for Evans, he has always been a close friend to the community. When he was sheriff in the post 9/11 era, he stood by Arab Americans and made sure that our community gatherings and events were protected and secured by his department. He also hired many Arab Americans to the sheriff’s department. Even as Detroit Police chief, he reached out to Arab business owners to reduce violence and crime in that city.

As sheriff, police chief and a Detroit mayoral candidate, he showed his executive skills and knowledge of local politics. He also has the support and trust of major centers of power in the county. 

As sheriff, Evans managed a $150 million budget and 1,300 employees, put a halt to foreclosures and took thousands of felons off the streets. As police chief, he reduced violent crime by 27 percent. As assistant prosecutor, he took on slumlords who weren’t maintaining their property.

We believe he is the right man for the job.

Running to fill the seat of her retiring husband, “the Dean of Congress”, Rep. John Dingell, Debbie Dingell is no stranger to politics. She is a graduate of The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; has represented her husband at many community events; ran Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign in Michigan; and was a super delegate at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. 

Conyers is a living legend. He was one of leaders of the Civil Rights movement, which changed the history of our nation. Poised to be the first African American Dean of Congress, he has stood by the Arab American community and showed his support during the hardest of times. However, while we support Conyers unequivocally and believe that his opponent is not fit for the job, we urge the congressman to consider giving a chance to the younger generation to walk in his footsteps of legislative civil rights advocacy in the next elections.

A former state legislator who has also served in the U.S. Congress, Clarke has the experience, skills and passion to fill the seat of Congressman Gary Peters, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Tlaib is a model politician. Her availability to her constituents, relentless advocacy and fearless battles for the people make her one of the most productive legislators in Lansing. The Palestinian American state representative is an inspiration for our young women and men. 

Chang is a Detroit-based activist who has shown her commitment to the causes of the people. As a community organizer, the impact of her work is already being felt in Detroit. She is a recent graduate of the Ford School of Public Policy and the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Tlaib, who is leaving the House due to term limits, has personally asked her to run for her seat.

Berry, president of the Dearborn Board of Education, has pledged his commitment to the future of our children. His tenure on the school board has given him much-needed experience to tackle education issues on the state-level. 

Despite his young age, Baydoun has a long history of activism for the community’s causes. The University of Michigan-Dearborn graduate is a passionate supporter of civil rights with instrumental leadership qualities.   

Trupiano recently celebrated his 20th year as a radio talk show host dubbed “The Voice of Labor.” Although proud of his work in radio, it is his activism that sets him apart. He has been supportive both on and off air to many groups that get little or no media time and receive even less support from allies.

Our endorsements match those of the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC). While the decisions of AAPAC, which operates independently, are not binding to our newspaper, we have made a decision to support the committee as long as it remains transparent and democratic.