DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The municipality race in Dearborn Heights is picking up steam as candidates have begun to pull their petitions before the May 14 deadline. Positions up for election this year are Mayor, four of the seven City Council seats, Treasurer and City Clerk.

So far, three candidates have pulled petitions for city mayor. Daniel Paletko, current mayor, is hoping to seek a third term in office, but his run will not come without challenge.

Also pulling petitions for the position is Janet Badalow, 42, who is currently council chairwoman pro tem. Badalow has a Bachelors Degree in accounting from Lawrence Tech University as well as a Masters Degree in business administration from Wayne State University, where she also minored in finance and accounting. She originally was elected into City Council in 2001 and has since been reelected twice. Badalow says she would like to focus on eliminating the city’s $5.7 million deficit if elected into office by making significant changes in city spending. 

An Arab American has also pulled a petition to run for mayor. Zuhair Abdel-Hak, who served as a chairman on the housing commission in the city, as well as on the zoning board, says it’s time for Dearborn Heights residents to elect a new mayor. He believes Mayor Paletko has deceived residents for many years now.

“I don’t like what’s going on in Dearborn Heights, we have a mayor who has been lying to residents for the last 29 years of his political life. I’m involved in all Arab American issues, but at the same time I’m involved in all city issues also. I will not just represent one group of people. My goal is to raise awareness of what has been happening in this city,” Abdel-Hak said.

Abdel-Hak has an education in electrical engineering from Wayne State University, and received his management diploma from Cairo University. He is currently self employed owner of the Dearborn Jewelry store NJ Diamonds, located on the corner of Ford Rd. and Schaefer rd. His wife, Kathy Abdel-Hak has also ran for Dearborn Heights city council in previous years.Three candidates have so far pulled petitions for City Council. Lisa Farrens, who bid for a city council seat last year to fill in for Margaret M. Van Houten after leaving  her seat vacant when she was appointed to the 3rd Circuit Court. Farrens, a 13-year resident in the city, is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in Michigan and has previously worked for Ford Motor Company and Detroit Diesel Company.

The second candidate who pulled a petition for council is Joseph V. Kosinksi, who has been a member of the city’s General Government Pension Board since 1984. He previously served a brief period on City Council in 2012, when he was appointed by the council to replace Van Houten, only to lose the seat to Farrens in the November 2012 election. 

Margaret Horvarth  also pulled a petition for council. Horvarth, who has been a Dearborn Heights resident for 45 years and is a mother of six, has served on the council for over 20 years. She says she hopes residents will re-elect her again because the council would need experienced people who could continue to handle concerning issues.

“I think I do a great job and I’m very committed to the city. I’m very concerned about the money situation and I would like to be a part of the upcoming negotiations in coming years,” Horvarth said. 

Running for re-election as Treasurer is John Riley. Riley, who received his Bachelors in accounting from Michigan State as well as a Masters in finance from Walsh College,  has had over 20 years of experience as Treasurer in the city.  He says he’s also concerned about the city’s deficit, which is under the control of the mayor and the council. His day-to-day duties holds him responsible for office budgeting as well as collecting and distributing funds. He said beginning this year, the city hopes to offset the deficit with a four year plan. “It’s a very serious issue that we all should have our eye on. We think it’s the most important item in the city,” Riley said over the phone. 

Walter Prusiewicz is seeking a second term as City Clerk. He was appointed into position in April 2011, before being elected in November 2011 to finish the remainder of the term. He is a Wayne State graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting and possesses a Masters of business administration with a concentration in Finance. While preparing for his own re-election, Prusiewicz is also responsible for managing the entire race and making sure the election runs smoothly. “So far this seems to be a good election, nothing out of the ordinary,” he stated.

All positions with more than two candidates in the running will face off during the August 6 primary before advancing towards the November 6 elections. For City Council, there may not be a primary election if there is not eight or more candidates in the running. The City Clerk’s office is encouraging Dearborn Heights residents who are not registered to vote to do so at the City Clerk’s office located at 6045 Fenton.