Paul Sophiea

DEARBORN — Paul Sophiea is the kind of Republican that predates Donald Trump. He says he is practical, independent and looking to represent the entire Dearborn community in his bid to win the State House’s District 15.

Sophiea said he is running because Dearborn is a growing city that needs proper representation in Lansing. 

“This goes beyond party politics,” Sophiea said. “I am running as a Republican, but I’m independent by nature.”

Sophiea said his vision is based on growth, opportunity and prosperity, echoing his campaign slogan. 

He stressed public safety, infrastructure and education.

“We have to make sure that Dearborn is getting its fair share, not only for the city (government), but for education as well,” he said. “What ties all this together is transparency.”

Sophiea said he would address the crumbling roads in Dearborn by asking for state allocations to be based on population density. Fuel taxes and car registration fees are set to increase in 2017 to help pay for road funding.

The candidate said the funds will be distributed by the length of the roads in each area.

“The kicker is that 40 percent of the state’s population is here in Southeast Michigan, in the tri-county area,” Sophiea said. “We’re not getting 40 percent of the money. We’ve got to change the formula. The wear and tear on the road and the population density is what leads to the destruction, not the number of roads you have.”

Sophiea said lowering insurance prices in Dearborn would be one of his legislative priorities.

He said there is no political will to average the risk factor throughout the state, which would bring down insurance prices for certain communities, including Dearborn and Detroit.

He explained that legislators of rural areas would object to such a proposal. 

“It’s funny how we can pay for their roads with our tax dollars, but they can’t help us out with the insurance prices; so maybe that’s a starting point to negotiate,” Sophiea said.

He also called for educating consumers about available discounts and ways to bring their rates down.

Sophiea also pledged to look into environmental issues and engage residents before voting on regulations that would affect factories in the Southend of Dearborn, which are considered some of the area’s worst polluters.

“I think that’s an important issue,” he said. “Republicans, Democrats, independents, non-voters all breathe the same air and can be affected by the same disease.”

District 15 is a stronghold for Democrats. In 2014, Democratic incumbent George Darany beat GOP candidate Johnnie Salemassi by 35 percentage points. 

Sophiea is aware that the race is an uphill battle. But the elimination of straight-ticket voting may give him a glimmer of hope. 

Michigan voters can no longer vote for all the candidates of a political party by checking its box on top of the ballot. The electorate must vote for each race individually. 

Sophiea said he wants to follow Gov. Snyder’s “formula” when he won Dearborn in 2010. He hopes that his practical approach to the issue will find appeal in Dearborn, which he described as a pragmatic city.

The candidate also reiterated his political independence, promising to listen to his constituents.

“I won’t work for the party, I will work for the people who elected me,” he said. 

As evidenced by Trump’s triumph in the GOP primaries, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments are on the rise in the Republican Party.

In Dearborn, the Arab vote can be decisive.

Sophiea, whose family’s last name was Sobhia before immigrating here, is of Lebanese descent. He was a member of the Michigan Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs before stepping down to run for the State House. 

He said he has used his connections to the governor’s mansion to ensure that qualified members of the Arab community are represented on state boards.

Sophiea said he has discussed his Middle Eastern roots in Republican circles in the east side of the state and was welcomed with open arms.

He added that Arab Americans cannot control the media, but they can get their message out and continue to shine in order to combat bigotry and misconceptions.

Sophiea, who was endorsed by the Arab American Political Action Committee, grew up in Detroit, where his father owned a restaurant.

He has earned a master’s degree in business and worked in the medical field for more than 30 years. In January, he started substitute teaching after his department was downsized.

The candidate said his recent time in the Dearborn schools gives him a “pretty good perspective” on what students need.

He has been married for 33 years. He has three daughters who grew up in Dearborn.

Sophiea is competing against Terrance Guido Gerin and Richard Johnson in the GOP primary on Aug. 2. If he wins, he will face the Democratic primary winner in November.