DEARBORN — A snow emergency did not stop hundreds of locals from turning out to the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center on the evening of Thursday, January 2 to witness the inauguration ceremony of Dearborn’s elected officials.

The ceremony comes two months after a historic city election landed first-time city council candidate Susan Dabaja in a first place finish, making her the only female on the seven seat body that includes five incumbents. Mike Sareini, who finished third in November’s election, is the other newcomer to the council. 

Master of Ceremonies Debbie Dingell navigated through the evening’s program, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra swore in Mayor Jack O’Reilly and the seven city council members. Also in attendance was Dingell’s husband Congressman John Dingell. 

Back (left to right): Shooshanian, Mayor O’Reilly, Abraham and Bazzy. Front (left to right): O’Donnell, Tafelski, Dabaja and Sareini.

Council incumbents Mark Shooshanian, Robert Abraham, David Bazzy, Brian O’Donnell and Thomas Tafelski renewed their pledges while Dabaja and Sareini took their oaths for the first time.

Shooshanian, who now stands as the longest serving member on the council, was sworn into his sixth term, while Tafelski and Abraham entered their fourth terms. O’Donnell and Bazzy both entered their second terms on the council. 

During the ceremony, Dabaja made history by becoming the city’s first Arab American city council president. Former council president Tafelski finished second in the election and will now serve as council president pro tem during the next four years.  

Each candidate was given a few minutes to speak at the podium. Dabaja capped the council speeches by reflecting on her upbringing in the city and highlighting the importance of her duties as both the new council president and as the only female on the body.

City council president Susan Dabaja gives her inauguration speech.

“The challenges we face in this city are real and their impact can be felt in each of our homes,” Dabaja said. “While it will not be easy, nor will things happen overnight, I assure you that I will work diligently, collectively and passionately, forging a strong path for our city government.”

She added that she has developed an effective line of communication with the other council members and the mayor in preparation for her duties. She said that while there will probably be differing views in the city’s government, she will make sure that they all work in concert to make tough decisions. 

“Under our leadership…we promise to work together, to spend wisely, to govern with openness and compassion, and be attentive to the needs of our residents, because only then can we continue to build a prosperous and safe Dearborn,” Dabaja said.

Following Dabaja’s speech, Mayor Jack O’Reilly was sworn in for another term. Mayor since 2007, following the passing of Mayor Michael Guildo, O’Reilly won the November election with 81 percent of the vote. 

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra swears in Mayor O’Reilly.

O’Reilly thanked residents of the city for supporting his long time run as a elected official, which traces back to 1990 when he was elected as a city council member. He also acknowledged the city’s department heads and employees for working with him on a daily basis to keep the city moving. 

“We have an incredible workforce in our city. From the department heads down to every single employee, I am impressed every day with how they work, how they are committed and how they really want to make this a great city. They are really in tune with what we want to do and I would like to thank them all for their services,” O’Reilly stated. 

O’Reilly discussed his priorities to keep delivering top quality services in Dearborn, especially in the police and fire departments, despite some recent financial struggles and economic setbacks. He says that while surrounding cities have had to cut crucial services, Dearborn has succeeded in maintaining its own.

From left to right: Zahra, O’Reilly and Imam Hussein Qazwini.

“A challenge that we have had for so many years is to maintain that full service level and make sure that Dearborn stands out as a community that addresses all the needs, and that’s what we have done collectively and that is what we will continue to do. We are going to continue being a full service community and we are going to continue to grow and adjust to the future of what’s coming,” O’Relly added. 

The ceremony also gave tribute to two retiring city council members, Nancy Hubbard and Suzanne Sareini, who had both served on the council since 1989.

Unable to attend due to an illness, Hubbard was still honored with a video that highlighted her years on the council. She is the only daughter of former Mayor Orville L. Hubbard, who served as the city’s leader from 1942 to 1978. 

Suzanne Sareini was also honored with a video and was presented with a tribute by the mayor. She took the stage to thank the residents of the city for their longtime support, and thanked her family for their backing.

There were tears of joy coming from Suzanne Sareini as she officially passed her seat along to her son Mike Sareini.  He told the crowd that he would have some big shoes to fill. 

“My mom, she laid a foundation of public service that’s really hard to follow,” Mike said. “I’m going to try my best to exceed her expectations.”

The first city council meeting of the year, led by Dabaja, will be held on Tuesday, January 14 at the City Council Chambers in City Hall at 7:30 p.m.  Dabaja says that over the past few months she has been attending city council meetings and holding private sessions with city officials in order to prepare herself to administer the meetings. The first item on the agenda is expected be the tabled ordinance concerning the usage of garages as habitable space.