DEARBORN — The Tuesday, Nov. 5 General Election is drawing near. In an effort to get the community to learn more about the Dearborn City Council candidates and their stances on important issues facing residents, The Arab American News (TAAN) asked each candidate three questions to help voters decide who they’ll support at the polls. Two candidates did not return responses. 

Kristyn Taylor:  One thing I learned from my work on behalf of the small pools is that an additional millage to support any of our services or unique treasures needs to be voted on by the entire City, and not act as a divisive issue. However, it is the responsibility of the City Council to spend any millage increase the way the voters intended. I think we have a lack of trust that the City leaders will act the way the voters intend. It is most important to be upfront about what decisions have to be made in the face of budget restraints, and the city council needs to step up to find creative solutions in the face of those restraints. I am committed to opening those lines of communication, so that we can all work together toward those solutions. To see the work I have done, visit my blog at www.kristyn4council.wordpress.com.

Thomas P. Tafelski (Incumbent): During my service on the Dearborn City Council, since 2001, and as President of city council, since 2006, the financial difficulties suffered by Dearborn have become ever more severe. A city cannot merely cut services without serious thought and discussion with residents and business owners. While we must address these budgetary issues head-on, we owe it to Dearborn taxpayers to also think out of the box.  Consolidation and regionalization of departments and services must be studied. Public-private partnerships are being established around the country to save and even enhance citywide and neighborhood recreation programs, among other services – why not in Dearborn?  Clearly, we must strengthen our community in aggressively fighting blight and crime. Without strong neighborhoods, everything else within a community becomes vulnerable.  

Susan Dabaja: First and foremost, I am hesitant to cut any more services, because I think that will be harmful to our city in the long run.  Many people have been attracted to Dearborn because of our outstanding City services, and these are services we need to maintain and sustain.  Even though our real estate market is showing improvement, we know it will be several years before our property tax revenues return to the levels they were before the economic downturn.

My strategy, instead, is to find ways we can extend the dollars we have. That may involve sharing services with neighboring communities and other government agencies.  I also believe we can pursue more state and federal grants for our police and fire, our recreation department and other City operations. While a millage increase may eventually be inevitable, I would only support putting a millage proposal before the voters of Dearborn after we had exhausted every other option to bring efficiencies to the City.

David Bazzy (Incumbent):  As a current member of the council, I supported the 3.5 temporary millage increase, which I felt was necessary to maintain services in the community. It is important that by the time this temporary millage expires in 2017 that the mayor and city council work together to draft plans for a leaner more efficient city government.

To accomplish this, it may mean additional regional sharing of services similar to the Melvindale fire department, or a further combining of departments internally at city hall. As a resident and business leader, I believe the last thing we ever want to do is cut services.  We are competing every day for businesses and residents to stay and move into our community.  We can never lose site that these residents and businesses are the City’s customers, or we will fail. 

Jane Ahern: As chair of the City’s Budget Revenue Enhancement Subcommittee in 2010, I made recommendations that the City ultimately adopted, to counter the decline in property values. As a result, we have weathered an almost unprecedented economic storm in far better shape than other municipalities. In fact, Moody’s Investor Service remarked that the adoption of this recommendation proved crucial to the health of Dearborn’s economy.  We need to keep the services we have to preserve the safety and quality of our community, but need to do so in a way that is fair, with participation from everyone. 

Mike Sareini: I believe that cutting services is not the answer, nor is it a long-term solution for our City. We must get more out of the resources we have. As a member of the council, I will support changes that will put us in the position to be proactive; like the recent takeover of the Melvindale Fire Department. This type of shared services allows for better coverage for our residents in areas not near a station and increasing revenue with the cover of the Melvindale area. 

Sharon Dulmage: City revenue has been shrinking partially as a result of lower property values and one way to increase revenue is to increase property values. I believe that strong neighborhoods and our excellent city services including fire and police sets us apart from other cities. I 100 percent support our city services and do not want to see reductions in that area.

Several things need to happen, first, growing the business districts is key to attracting homeowners to our city. Working with neighborhood organizations and the city to help keep our neighborhoods clean and properties looking nice and in good repair also will also attract homeowners to Dearborn. As property values increase so does the city’s revenue.

Secondly, identifying and implementing cost saving measures to help reduce expenditures will improve city funds. 

 

Tarek M. Baydoun: I believe the City of Dearborn is well-funded and continues to provide an excellent level of services. We need to continue funding police, fire and emergency medical services, and we need to invest in recreation as a priority. Dearborn must distinguish itself by continuing to look for creative solutions to serve the needs of our residents. I encourage all of the residents to view our positive solutions online at www.DearbornFirst.com. 

Colette Richards: I would work with the chamber of commerces, Dearborn Schools, realtors and neighborhood associations to build our tax base back up, by finding ways to bring in new businesses and families.  Working collaboratively with these organizations can help improve our City by making Dearborn the place to live, shop and work.  New businesses and new residents will help with our declining revenue. Working with the schools to make Dearborn the place to send your children for school will engage new families to move here.  Maintaining our neighborhoods will make Dearborn the desirable place to live. 

Robert Alex Abraham (Incumbent): The most significant issues we will face is balancing the City’s budget and delivering the high quality services that the community has traditionally expected. To do this, we must do “more with less.”  Dearborn is rich in services; high quality services that most communities do not provide.  These services include the libraries, museum, animal shelter, parks, recreation, the community center, the theater, pools, senior citizen activities and many more…They are all assets that can attract new families to Dearborn and keep existing homeowners as our good neighbors.  This is a critical election, and we are a City rich in assets that we must protect for our future.  Now, more than ever before, experience and leadership is needed on the city council.   I believe we can be the best city in Michigan.  I am asking to represent you for another term in office.

Brian C. O’Donnell (Incumbent): As a council member, I will continue the practice of finding solutions to problems through innovative ways of thinking and creating new efficiencies before I would ever cut City services or public safety staffing levels.  An example of this is the leaf pick-up program.  The council devised a new strategy to house the leaves in fenced off areas and then dispose of them, as time permits, outside of the peak season. This has led to a great reduction of the cost of the leaf pick-up program. This new strategy also keeps a service that the citizens of Dearborn desire and expect, despite decreased funding. The council needs to create more examples like this one and to find efficiencies and maximize the City’s finite financial and staffing resources.

Patrick Melton: The very last thing I would support would be degradation of City services.  I feel that it’s crucial to ensure that spending is in line with revenue, and the city council will need to look for creative ways to guard services.  One example of this kind of creativity is the recent merge of fire services between Dearborn and Melvindale, which allowed combined tax revenue to fund a critical service.

Taylor: The biggest issue we face in Dearborn is a lack of trust, which stems from a breakdown of communication.  I believe that without that trust and without those lines of communication open, specific plans and initiatives will always fall short amid suspicions and speculation. As a resident, I have worked to open lines of communication and demand transparency of City officials, through my efforts to educate myself and others on the budget, as well as to demand answers on what was really happening behind the City Hall move. I have shown that I can represent the people of Dearborn’s interests on issues like saving the small pools and demanding a place at the table. I plan to bring those voices to the City as your next city council member, and I hope you will vote for me on November 5th to help me to do that. 

Tafelski: The best thing that I, or any city council members, can do is to listen and ask the tough questions. A city council member owes it to the voters of this community to ask questions of the mayor and listen and collaborate with residents and business owners when possible. I have taken an active stand against moving the historic Dearborn City Hall, moving it west and replacing it with low-income housing and art studios. We haven’t conducted the sufficient due diligence associated with making such a significant move. We haven’t adequately tackled the issues of rental properties, crime and neighborhood recreational options. As our times continually change, we must understand that service, creativity and energy are vital to a community’s success.

Dabaja: I believe I have been very thorough in getting my message and my platform out to the voters of Dearborn.  I have utilized social media, like Facebook, a website and e-blasts, as well as conventional means, like mailing out brochures.  And I have touched thousands of Dearborn voters in person, by knocking on their doors or meeting them at events.

My platform for council consists of four important but attainable priorities:  I want to keep Dearborn’s streets safe and sound across our entire City.  I want to bring more efficiencies, new technology and best practices to city hall, to improve our operations.  I want to rejuvenate our business districts, by working collaboratively with our business owners to reach out and more effectively promote themselves and the City to current and potential customers.  And I want to maintain the high level of City services that our residents so richly deserve.

Bazzy: Everyone likes to talk public safety, but without a plan, those are just buzzwords. I would promote a community policing initiative where we have more officers dedicated to neighborhood patrols.  I also want to see us rewrite rental ordinances, inclusive of background checks on renters and increased enforcement of bad landlords, in both the business and neighborhood districts.  I also would like the City to create a task force with the citizens to develop ideas of businesses that would be supported by the community and seek out those businesses to move into the City.  Lastly, we need a policy of welcoming new business into the city and extending every courtesy to these groups willing to move into the community.  It would be great to eliminate paid parking, but without a plan to replace the $1.5 million dollars it brings towards paying down the debt on the parking decks, it becomes a fiscal mess.

Ahern: My greatest concerns are safety and services, and I promise to fight to preserve both.  How we preserve these is not only up to members of the council, of course – residents have the greatest say, and I pledge to advocate for everyone. Residents make the plans and residents make the initiatives. I am running to serve.

Sareini: I believe, through my website and speaking in public forums, I have been clear on my positions in relevant issues facing the City. I believe that candidates have limited access to the necessary data to actually speak on all the issues. The voters should look into my accomplishments and work ethic that has led to my educational achievements, as well as my professional national sales rankings. I am confident that I have the qualifications and drive to make a great councilman. That being said, I do believe that our City needs to get back to the basics of good government; that is public safety.  I do believe that our police officers should be part of our community and that the hiring practices should include a point system that favors the new officers to live in our City limits. I have talked to many officers over the years on this issue and they agree that officers that live in the community they work in have a better understanding of the citizens and become more a community police department and not one that leaves at the end of their shift. 

Dulmage: My plan, to be specific, is to actively recruit retail to our business districts. As part of a project I knocked on doors of business from Greenfield to Schafer and asked specific questions about how things could be improved. Last year I did it in a different area. Vacant buildings need to be identified and classified according to potential use, the possibility of incentives  explored and the permit process streamlined then I would approach businesses in other cities and share what we have to offer and invite them to Dearborn.  As for the pools, which are a hot topic to some I would look to make sure that each quadrant of the city had a fine recreational area which may include a pool or a splash park, whichever would better serve the residents of that area. There are still pools that are open and once again, I would look to implementing efficiencies to keep the cost of operating them as low as possible.  

 Baydoun: I am proud to say that our campaign has been at the forefront of proposing positive solutions in some detail. I have produced positive proposals on property values and taxation, public safety and recreation online at www.DearbornFirst.com. Additionally, I have proposed eliminating paid parking in downtown west Dearborn and have insisted on restoring the minimum staffing levels for the police department, as well as better hiring practices. We need to hire more qualified residents to serve the community in City jobs.

Richards: I plan to be a pro-active council member, by working with our economic developer and new president of the Chamber of Commerce to see how the City can work better to bring in new businesses to Dearborn. I want to work with the neighborhood associations to help residents with whatever they need.   I will encourage residents to come to me with their issues, so that we may resolve them quickly and efficiently.  I’m approachable and pride myself on getting back with anyone who contacts me within 24 hours, whether it’s by phone or email. 

Abraham: Safe neighborhoods, fire fighters and police officers are the cornerstone to safety of each resident.  Maintaining the proper staffing levels, better visibility and quick responses remains the highest priority.  Safe neighborhoods will help attract new residents and youthfulness to our community, while protecting the senior citizens in their sunset years.  Strong, community oriented neighborhoods, with a stream of new residences will attract new businesses to the downtown areas.  This, in turn, will create jobs and a strong economic base for the future. Clean neighborhoods:  We must continue to find creative ways to improve our neighborhoods.  Looking away from a problem or issue should not be acceptable.  Sweeping streets more often, removing abandon cars, saving trees, picking up litter and keeping the parks clean must be challenges we overcome every single day.

O’Donnell: One of the reasons you have not heard a great deal about some of the candidates’ plans or initiatives is that some individuals running for council have very little experience in the workings of the City and have never participated in any type of civic activity, as it pertains to the City of Dearborn or any city for that matter. 

An example of one I am pursuing is allowing public safety and other City employees certain benefits for living in the City. A few examples can range from free or discounted pool tags, Camp Dearborn passes, skating passes at the DISC, taking home a City vehicle, or perhaps discounts on taxes, etc. 

I would like to encourage people that work in the City to live in the City.  This is just one idea, but in the limited space it is hard to elaborate. 

Melton: It’s easy to stand on the sidelines and talk about “simple solutions” for the issues that challenge our City.  I’m convinced, however, that if these issues had simple solutions, they would be fixed by now.

The first thing I will do as a city council member is to listen, ask questions and talk to my colleagues on the council who have been grappling with the challenges our City faces longer than me.  I want to spend some time really getting my arms around our constraints and limitations, in order to then be able to collaboratively work with council members to identify solutions.

Over the many years I spent as trustee and then president of an eight-member retirement fund, I gained valuable and relevant experience for how to break through the stalemates that prevent groups of well-intended individuals from reaching the solutions that are most appropriate.  

I will address issues by approaching them with an open mind, listening to my colleagues and those who have a deep understanding of all aspects of the challenge, and then work to be a leader to drive the council to the best outcome.

Taylor: While I was in law school, I worked as a case/redress coordinator at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, where I had the opportunity to fight against discrimination toward the Arab American community. In order to combat bigotry, we need to teach ourselves and others to look through the eyes of those we don’t understand. The city council is in a great position to do this, by encouraging cross-cultural events and truly welcoming people of all walks of life to Dearborn. We must lead by example, but that also means allowing the freedom for dissenting voices to speak, even when they are disagreed with. If we can create a safe space for real dialogue, we can begin to promote the positive aspects of our City and the communities that are within.  I would love to hear your thoughts as well. 

Tafelski: First and foremost, we must always take a clear stand against discrimination in all its forms and treat it as intolerable. Stereotyping and hate are best fought by telling the real story of this community; of the work and cooperation that takes place every day between and among all ethnicities.  I’m proud to tell that story.

 

Dabaja: This intolerance and ignorance by bigots is very unfortunate, but we cannot deny that it exists. All of us, regardless of our background, want to live in a safe and clean neighborhood to raise our families.  As a city councilwoman, I will stand proud as an Arab-American and a Dearborn resident and promote my heritage and my City at every opportunity.  I believe that we, as a city, need to aggressively promote our diversity and celebrate it as an asset that many other communities do not have.  We need to cultivate our diverse strengths and use it for the betterment of our City, as Dearborn can benefit from those who choose to live and invest in our City and help it grow.  I will gladly accept any and all invitations from local and national media outlets to promote Dearborn and our City’s diversity.

Bazzy: I have lived in Dearborn for 55 years and have watched with great pride the accomplishments of the Arab American community in and around the City. I believe you can never change some individual’s bigotry, but what we can do is to continue to promote the positives of what the Arab American community has done in Dearborn. By the way, looking at the Arab American museum and the resources available in the community, one can simply state the factual accomplishments of Arab Americans in this country as a starting point. I have received many emails since being on the council, especially on the hot button topics when groups come to town.  Some are worth responding to, because I believe they want to listen, and others are just racist and inflammatory. Unfortunately, the way past racist behavior is not easy, but by promoting the positive in our community, we eventually win. 

Ahern: Nothing is more anti-American than bigotry. Yet, racial, ethnic and religious groups of all kinds have been victims of foolish prejudices, and I am convinced that the best way to counter such feelings is by education. Our community is filled with hard-working men and women, who care about their families and their neighbors, and those who visit our City should understand this. I encourage everyone, including all residents of Dearborn, to visit the Arab American Museum and learn the stories of immigrants who came here to seek better lives for themselves and their families. These stories should be familiar to every American, because for almost all of us, they are the stories of our own parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. 

Sareini: As a member of the council, I feel that we have systems in place to respond and/or detour any attacks on Arab Americans in Dearborn and it is the U.S. Constitution and our local laws. We have to learn from our past experiences, such as the Terry Jones Freedom of Speech incident.  By protesting and fueling his mission, we actually did not help the situation. As a member of the council, I will be proactive and encourage the following of the law, speaking to community leadership and minimizing the negative exposure on Dearborn. 

Dulmage:   When people come to our city to talk in a negative way about any ethnic group or religion I prefer to totally ignore them. I do not like to give them the publicity they seek. I refused to take part in any of it. I do not know one person that supports their point of view, whatever that might be. They are here to stir up trouble and that is it. If we ignore them and act like they do not exist they will go away. We do not want them here. If they want to come and visit Dearborn and learn what we are about that is one thing but they only come to try to stir up trouble.  Those people are outsiders and have no idea of how Dearborn people feel and how protective we are of each other. 

Baydoun:  I have a track record of effectively bringing people together to fight Islamaphobia and misperception and mischaracterizations about our City. I love Dearborn and will continue to help promote its reputation as a place where families and businesses want to locate and help create opportunities to succeed.

Richards: We have 60 different flags that are in the halls of city hall.  This makes us a very diverse community. I have promoted our diversity through all of my community work as the past president of the Dearborn PTA Council. I have witnessed the positive work of our diversity, through our local high school Interact clubs, Relay for Life teams, ACCESS helping the Dearborn Good fellows and more.  I promote positive things that our community continues to do.  I will keep doing that in my daily life as well as a city council member.  Our diversity is what makes us great.

Abraham: The Arab Americans and Muslims living in Dearborn are rich in strong leadership and representation.  As I have for the past 12 years, I would continue to work with community leaders to project true and accurate pictures of our City and our people.  I believe in helping people.  That is what I have tried to do over the past three council terms for all of Dearborn, and that is what I will continue to do for four more years.  My record is clear.  I am an experienced leader with strong ethnic roots.  With constant change in Dearborn, we need independent-minded thinkers that make intelligent decisions.  In times of need and unfair attacks the community will be able to call on me and count on me to support them and lead the way when necessary. My wife and I are committed to Dearborn and you.  We will be by your side.

O’Donnell:  Education is the key for this question. Many individuals are afraid or hesitant to embrace a culture that they know very little about. We need to do a better job in Dearborn of creating events for all those inside and outside of Dearborn to participate in and become more familiar with all the wonderful cultures that exist here. This interaction can then foster an environment of learning and understanding, which will aid in the reduction of bigotry of all cultures here in the short and long term.

Melton: Whether a city council member, or a resident of Dearborn, I am proud to represent the city I live in.  Because the Arab American population is so integrated throughout the City, my family and I regularly interact with members of that community and I feel comfortable responding to people’s negative impressions with my own personal experience.  I have many reference points, including the leadership I see from Mr. Hussein Berry, who runs Dearborn’s little league football organization; the friendships my children have with Arab Americans in our neighborhood, school and sports; and the Arab American colleagues I have worked closely with through the years at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, just to name a few.  The similarities we share are deep, and we have come to value and appreciate the differences that make the Arab American community such a vital part of our City.  I welcome the opportunity to offer a different perspective to those who have chosen bigotry over a more inclusive perspective.