DEARBORN — This year’s elections are shaping up to be the most critical and competitive yet for the community, as multiple candidates— including many Arab Americans— are battling for positions on the November ballot.

The filing deadline for the majority of the positions up for elections was on Tuesday, April 19. Candidates had until Friday, April 22 to withdraw their names from the race.

Those remaining in the race must first square off in a primary election on Tuesday, August 2. From there, the highest vote getters will then proceed to the general election on Tuesday, November 8.

Below is a round up of candidates running for positions in the city of Dearborn.

19th District Court judge

Three candidates, including two Arab American women, have filed to run for the seat of 19th District Court Judge William C. Hultgren, who will retire at the end of the year.

City Council President Susan Dabaja is among the contenders vying for the seat. If elected, Dabaja would have completed three years of her four-year term on council.

Abbie Bazzi, a managing attorney at the UAW for 24 years, and a graduate of Wayne State Law School, is also seeking the position.

Both campaigns have held successful fundraisers with large community turnouts.

The third candidate is longtime Dearborn attorney Gene Hunt.  

The judge’s seat is a six year term.  The two highest vote getters in the primary will advance to the November elections. 

15th District State Representative

The State Representative race is perhaps even more competitive than the campaign for the judge’s seat. As of the filing deadline, six Democrats and three Republicans are vying for the position that will be left by State Represntative George Darany, who will complete his third two year term at the end of the year. Only one candidate from each party will advance to the general election.

The Democratic candidates in the race are Brian Stone, a Navy veteran; Jacklin Zeidan, a community activist; Abdullah Hammoud, a health adviser for Henry Ford Health System; Norman Alsahoury, a businessman; Alex Shami and Dearborn School Board Trustee Roxanne McDonald.

Four of the Democrats are Arab Americans, but Stone told The Arab American News that he believes he is the most qualified candidate to represent the community in Lansing. He argues that he’s stood up for Dearborn and its Arab American community more than any other candidate.

“I am really enthused about having such a competitive primary,” Stone said. “I think the Arab American community will be behind me at the end of the day, because I have a solid track record for fighting for the community.”

Abdullah Hammoud said that he’s also welcoming the competition.

 “We are very confident in our campaign and the team we’ve put together,” Hammoud said. “Come August, I think it won’t come down to much of a margin. Bringing out people is a common theme in all the campaigns. We aren’t discouraged. It’s great to see so many individuals partake in the election process.”

An Arab American candidate, Paul E. Sophiea, a Dearborn resident for 28 years and a former college instructor, is also seeking the Republican nomination. However, he would have to defeat fellow Republicans Terrance Guido Gerin, a former WWE wrestler, and Richard B. Johnson.

Dearborn School Board 

Unlike the other races, candidates have until July to file for the Dearborn Board of Education elections.

This year, three seats— two full terms and one partial term— on the seven-member body are up for grabs.

Attorney Fadwa Hammoud, who was appointed last year following the departure of Aimee Schoelles, is seeking to stay on the school board by vying for one of the seats.

The other two seats will be left by the vacancies of Roxanne McDonald and Joseph Guido, who end their six year terms in December 2016.