DEARBORN — The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced this week that it would delay its endorsement for governor until after the organization’s annual dinner on Wednesday, October 22 at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center.

The group decided to delay making an endorsement after meeting on Wednesday evening at The Arab American News office to vote for a candidate. 

AAPAC had announced the majority of its endorsement slate last week, but decided to delay a decision on the governor’s race as members hadn’t yet interviewed democratic nominee Mark Schauer.

At the time, voting members had also said they wanted to watch Schauer debate with Governor Rick Snyder during a “town hall meeting” held on Sunday, October 12. 

The candidates have received an invitation to the AAPAC dinner. If both accept, they will be asked to each give a five minute speech. Afterwards, the organization will seek feedback from attendees before making a decision the following day as to which candidate to endorse.

Only members of AAPAC can vote on which candidate to endorse, as per the organization’s bylaws.

“AAPAC members, like many Michigan residents, are not ready to vote or make a decision on the race for governor,” AAPAC President, Ali Hammoud said. “It’s a very tight race and a race that has a lot of issues, not only for Arab Americans, but for the entire state of Michigan.”

According to Hammoud, AAPAC is looking for community feedback, because members recognize that just as AAPAC is split, so is the community and the entire state.

“We are asking members of the community to speak to us and tell us who they want AAPAC to endorse,” he said. “We will be asking people at our dinner who they would support and who would they endorse if they had the opportunity to vote.” 

The organization usually distributes more than 30,000 mailers with their full endorsement slate to remind voters to go to the polls on election day. This year the slates will not be distributed until after the organization makes a decision regarding the governor’s race.

Hammoud said AAPAC’s undecided stance is a rarity for the organization. Since AAPAC was established in 1998, it had always announced its full slate of endorsements ahead of its annual dinner. The decision to delay the endorsement has now elevated the annual dinner into the spotlight. 

“It’s going to be exciting for AAPAC,” Hammoud said. “It’s going to be a historical race and it will be exciting for people to come to the banquet hall not knowing who AAPAC is going to endorse. It’s very essential that we make the right decision.”

For more information on AAPAC’s 17th Annual Banquet “Strength in Unity” dinner, call 313.582.4888.

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.