DEARBORN — Local businessman David Bazzy is expected to fill the vacant seat of former Dearborn City Councilman Democrat George Darany, who defeated city council member Suzanne Sareini of the Republican Party in the race for 15th District State Representative. Bazzy was in line to pick up the vacant seat of the winner. He is last year’s eighth place finisher for council elections. 

David Bazzy

In an interview Tuesday, he expressed excitement about beginning work on the Dearborn City Council come January.  “I have always had a goal of working with and serving the public,” he said. 

Bazzy says his top priorities include addressing home foreclosure and vacant property issues.

“My goal is to be physically responsible to the administration on how to reduce the amount of real estate that is vacant,” Bazzy said. “We have investors, and have to be more proactive.”

Economic development is also on the 53-year-old’s agenda. He says his experience as a longtime businessman is one of his best attributes. Bazzy is the President of Kenwal Steel and Kenwal Pickling and says he’s managed to turn it around from a $50 million to a $650 million company during his 25 year tenure. Bazzy holds a MBA from Wayne State University.

He says a part of a city council member’s job is to observe the community and address its conditions with a financial strategy that will make it a better place for residents. Bazzy mentioned implementing a small business tax incentive, and says it would help struggling businesses and bring more job opportunities to the community.

Bazzy has lived in Dearborn his whole life. He’s been married to his wife Cherie for 26 years and has three sons.

In addition to his background in business, Bazzy has been on the Recreation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for six years. In 2005 he won a city charter commissionership. He chaired the commission and a charter he helped write was enacted in 2007 by Dearborn voters.

Five of Dearborn’s city council members were supported by Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly in the 2009 council race including Bazzy, Sareini, Mark Shooshanian, Bob Abraham and Nancy Hubbard. 

Bazzy is encouraging bipartisanship. “We have to be a unified group, one that works together,” he said.