DEARBORN — Council President Pro-Tem Suzanne Sareini announced this week that she will not be seeking re-election to the Dearborn City Council, after serving six consecutive four year terms since her first election in 1989.

Sareini says that she had seriously considered seeking a re-election, however the untimely death of her daughter, Nowal, 43, changed that course. Nowal had suffered from a heart disease and passed away in her sleep in January. Sareini says the loss of her daughter has changed her life in unexpected ways, and her new goal will be to focus on her two grandsons Tarik and Adam.

Mike Sareini pulls his petition with his mother, Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini, along his side at city hall on Wednesday.

“Nawal has two little boys, and in order to honor my daughter I have to raise her children in the way she would. With Nawal’s passing, I knew it was time for me to focus on the children and retire. I will remain on the council until the end of this year, and Mike [her son] has pulled his petition and he will work hard to earn his vote,” Sareini said in a phone interview.

While Sareini announced the end of her journey in city council, she was adamant in supporting her son, Mike Sareini, who has officially announced that he will bid for a seat in city council this year. Sareini accompanied her son at the Dearborn City Clerk’s office on Wednesday where Mike officially pulled his nominating petition for the race.

“I’m going to help him on the campaign, and hopefully when things are settled, I can remain active in other ways in the city. It will always be a part of my life,” Sareini added. 

Sareini’s run for city council was a landmark for Arab Muslims, not just in Dearborn, but across the country. She was recognized by The Arab American Institute, a Washington D.C based political organization, for being the first Arab American Muslim woman to be elected into any position in office in the U.S, setting a precedent for the community.

“Suzanne has made public service the hallmark of her service. She was known as an elected official who would always advocate for persons who didn’t know where to turn when problems arose with the city or other levels of government. Councilwoman Sareini truly enjoyed being with people and celebrating with them when things were going their way and supporting them when tragedy struck,” a press release from her office had stated.