– Hassan F. Abdallah is a candidate for the Dearborn City Charter Commission, a Corporate and Regulatory Compliance Officer and community activist.

On Tuesday, August 3, Dearborn voters will be faced with making several key decisions that will shape the future of the city for many years to come. Voters will be electing a new City Council and a new mayor for the first time since 2007. 2007 also marks the last time the city’s Charter was revised. This year, the primary ballot will include Proposal A, which will ask voters whether or not they want to revise the city Charter. The city’s Charter acts as the city’s constitution and is the most important legal document in our city government. It is the rule book and operating manual of how the city is managed. Specifically, it outlines the powers of the mayor, the powers of the City Council, the framework for the city’s taxation process and essential procedures that are managed by the city administration and elected officials.

I am advocating for voters to vote yes on Proposal A and support the revision of the city Charter. If Proposal A passes, a nine-member commission will be elected in the November General election. Now more than ever, civic engagement and participation in local government is absolutely critical to ensure that critical issues impacting city residents are being addressed by our elected officials.

The opportunity to revise the city Charter only comes up once every 12 years. If a new Charter is adopted, it is likely to remain in place for an even longer period of time. Now more than ever, revisions to the Charter are absolutely necessary. As Dearborn voters elect a new mayor and City Council, it is imperative that the city’s Charter is revised to best reflect the current state of the city and giving the Charter a much needed and long overdue revision.

Vote yes on Proposal A on Tuesday, August 3.