DEARBORN — If there’s a candidate who’s familiar with the 19th District Court, it would be Gene Hunt. 

The longtime Dearborn attorney threw his name into the competitive race in hopes of replacing William C. Hultgren, who will be retiring at the end of the year.

Hunt said he decided to run for the position because he knows the ins and outs of Dearborn’s court, having overseen more than 10,000 cases since he opened up his law practice in the city in 1985. 

“I have the kind of demeanor that someone needs to be a judge,” Hunt said. “I don’t make decisions based on emotion. I try to reason things out and think things through. I am very interested in justice and that’s what I would be doing. I would make sure everyone gets their fair shot.”

Hunt will be vying for the seat against Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja and UAW attorney Abbie Bazzi. 

In the primary being held on Tuesday, August 2, the two highest vote getters will advance to the November election. 

Hunt said he knows his opponents well, but will be focusing on his qualities to win over Dearborn voters. He also said he doesn’t have any issues with his opponents.

“I’ve known them both for as long as they’ve been around,” he said. “I think I’m more qualified. I’ve handled thousands of cases in that court.”

More importantly, Hunt has been contracted to represent indigent defendants in the city for more than 20 years. Very often he is representing clients who aren’t paying him out of their own pockets. 

He added that he’s committed to the work because it gives him an opportunity to assist people who may not have the resources they need in the courtroom. Hunt said he treats his court-appointed clients in the same manner that he would treat his retained clients.

“When you assist someone that needs help and you do a good job and put a smile on their face, it means a lot to me,” Hunt said. “I do it in all aspects of my life. It’s nice that I get paid to do something like that. I take great joy in doing a good job, especially if someone doesn’t expect it.” 

Having represented various clients, Hunt recognizes that drug abuse is an epidemic that needs to be approached with sensitivity in the courts.

 “I think people who are addicted to drugs need help,” he said. “I’ve done that in my career. I’ve helped many people who were addicted. It’s a terrible life to lead.” 

Raised in Dearborn, Hunt attended Fordson High School. Shorty after high school, he joined the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after two years. 

Hunt continued his education by attending Henry Ford College and the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He graduated from Wayne State University Law School with honors.

Hunt said he’s made many friends in the Arab American community after having spent the majority of his life living and working in Dearborn. He noted that his grandmother is of Lebanese descent. 

“I have a lot of friends in the Arab American community,” he said. “I don’t think you would hear anything negative about me. I treat everyone the same. It doesn’t matter what you are, it matters who you are. Everyone has a brain and a heart and that’s what I’m interested in.”

Starting this week, he will begin going door to door to reach out to Dearborn voters. Hunt will also be holding a campaign fundraiser at the LaPita Restaurant on May 31 at 5:30 p.m. 

To learn more about Hunt, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/genehuntforjudge/?fref=ts