Dave Abdallah campaigning in Dearborn Heights.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Wassim “Dave” Abdallah has been campaigning extensively in the run-up to Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, when he will vie for one of three available City Council seats.

Abdallah will face off against incumbents Ned Apigian and Lisa Hicks Clayton, as well newcomers Troy Brown and Raymond Muscat.

While Abdallah is new to the political scene, residents are already very familiar with him. A leading real estate agent for Century 21, he continues to work out of the Curran & Christie office located on Ford Road, near Beech Daly. 

However, he’s aware that name recognition alone will not be enough to guarantee a seat. An Arab American resident in Dearborn Heights for more than 15 years, Abdallah is counting on the community to turn out to support him on Election Day. 

“I’ve been voting for 35 years and I don’t ever see many Arabs voting at the polls,” Abdallah said. 

Arab American voters have proven their strengths in Dearborn in recent years, with City Council President Susan Dabaja, Councilman Mike Sareini, School Board Trustee Mariam Bazzi and 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey landing in office with major victories.

But that  momentum didn’t carry over to Dearborn Heights. For a number of years, Arab American candidates have struggled to win positions that include the school board, City Council and state representative.

20th District Court Judge David Turfe and Councilman Tom Berry were successful in their bids in Dearborn Heights, but many note that their names don’t sound Arabic, which may have helped them at the polls. 

According to Abdallah, of the 6,000 registered Arab American voters in Dearborn Heights, only about 700 turned out at the polls. 

“We’ve had excellent response from the Arab community in support and backing me,” Abdallah said.  “A lot of it is from the good reputation I’ve had from the real estate business. Unfortunately, history tells us they don’t go out and vote. It doesn’t matter how much you support me; at the end of the day you have to go out and vote.”

Abdallah is in the process of organizing volunteers to help him on Election Day. He plans to have campaigners stationed at all of the city’s 17 precincts. He will also have volunteers knocking on doors and driving people to the polls if a resident needs transportation. 

He’s also hoping the youth in the community will take the lead on Election Day and remind the rest of their families to go out and vote. 

And while Abdallah is taking on the obstacle of encouraging the Arab American community to vote for him, he is also simultaneously reaching out to voters in the Southend of Dearborn Heights. 

There, residents often complain about lack of services and feeling detached from the rest of the city. That area includes far fewer Arab American residents compared to other neighborhoods.

He noted that he wants to erase the physical and economical divide between the Southend of Dearborn Heights and the northern section of the city. 

Abdallah, who has been door-to-door knocking since April, said residents have expressed major concerns with him on city matters that he hopes to address if elected.

“Residents are telling me that the drug problem is a bigger problem than I had anticipated,” he said. “A lot of residents were complaining about that. Certain neighborhoods in the city also have a major rat problem. Flooding continues to be a major issue as well. The city being closed four days a week is an issue for a lot of people. Many residents are also demanding a stronger police presence inside of the neighborhoods.”

Abdallah noted that the city experienced a surge in its business districts in northern Dearborn Heights in recent years. However, the Southend business districts are still stagnant. It’s an area he would like to focus on during his city council tenure. 

In recent months, Abdallah has attended neighborhood association meetings and senior citizen town halls to reach more residents. He wants voters to be assured that he is seeking public office not to just represent a certain group of people, but to be a voice for everyone. 

“I want to show by example to all residents that if there is an Arab American candidate, he will represent everyone in the city,” Abdallah said.  “I have a duty to represent all citizens, not just certain segments of the population. A lot of people in Dearborn Heights believe they don’t have the same type of services and I want to make that change.”

Abdallah has received backing from Berry, Mayor Dan Paletko, State Sen. David Knezek (D- Dearborn Heights) and the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC). 

Residents wishing to volunteer or donate to Abdallah’s campaign can call 313-855-5843 or email voteabdallah@gmail.com for further information.