Abdallah.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights resident and real estate agent Wassim “Dave” Abdallah announced his candidacy for Dearborn Heights City Council this week. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Abdallah has been a Dearborn Heights resident for 15 years and has worked in the city even longer. Shortly after receiving dual degrees in Marketing and Finance from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, he began his career as a real estate agent for Century 21 in 1989. 

Working out of the Curran & Christie location in the city, Abdallah has sold real estate properties throughout the tri-county area.

He will compete against four other candidates in the running for three available seats on the seven member council. 

“After years of living and working in the Dearborn Heights area, I understand the issues that residents face with city services,” Abdallah said. “It is my hard work and dedication that helped me achieve success in my real estate career and I hope now to channel that energy and serve the families and residents of Dearborn Heights as their councilman.”

Abdallah said that city services is one of the major items on his platform because he often hears residents raising concerns. He noted while Dearborn Heights doesn’t have as large of a population or budget as Dearborn, he would aim to provide more consistent clean up services as a councilman.

“We need to work to make the city cleaner,” Abdallah said. “We always compare it to Dearborn, but it’s a bigger city with a bigger budget. We have a smaller city, but the cleaning of our streets aren’t as common. People want their core services; and as a councilman I would like to improve the city that I live in.”

Along with expanding on services, Abdallah also wants to bring City Hall back to a five day work week as opposed to the four day schedule it currently operates on. 

He commends city officials for allowing diverse businesses to open up their doors in recent years. The new wave of businesses has strengthened business districts in several areas in the city, particularly on Ford Road between Beech Daly and Inkster Road and along Warren Ave. between Telegraph and Beech Daly. 

As a councilman, Abdallah said he will work with city officials and business owners to continue strengthening the city’s economy. 

“I want to encourage every kind of business to open in this area,” he said. “It’s a thriving community open to all kinds of businesses. This is the time when you can still pick up commercial properties at great deals. The economy and business is getting better and it will be a great time invest.”

Abdallah said he’s picked up on several issues and recurring patterns in the city after selling homes for so many years; one of them is the divide that often appears between the north end neighborhoods and the south end neighborhoods. Many residents feel that there is a drastic contrast in ambiance in these sections of the city.

Abdallah noted that he’s familiar with every corner of the city and is aware of all the burning issues residents often face. 

“Being a real estate agent, I’ve also noticed there seems to be two cities here,” he said. “I want to draw more of a connection between the south end and north end areas. One of the advantages I have is the ability to be able to assimilate with all citizens of the city. I’m into helping everybody. I’ve worked in the city for 27 years and worked in every single neighborhood. I know the concerns of the citizens.”

Abdallah’s focus and commitment is evident; at one point he worked seven days a week and up to 18 hours a day as a real estate agent. He spent much of his resources on training and teamwork; and last year, the Dave Abdallah Team at Century 21 was named the number one sales agent team in the country.

He also sits on the executive board for the Bint Jebail Cultural Center; he’s a member of the Dearborn Heights Community Organization, a group that works with the city’s board of education; and is a member of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce. 

Earlier this year, Gov. Snyder appointed Abdallah to the state’s Middle Eastern Affairs Commission. 

Abdallah said he considered running for council after he began looking for avenues to give back to the community. He consulted with several community leaders about a possible run for office, including several Dearborn Heights officials, many of whom  encouraged him to seek a position on the council. 

He said the council could use some fresh perspectives, which he’s willing to bring to the table. He noted that he’s spent his entire career working as a team player and he will abide to that practice on council as well. 

“I’ve been very open minded to other views in every group or settings I’ve been a part of,” Abdallah said. “I don’t like ‘yes’ people. I like people who question things. It makes it thought provoking and you start to think of different angles to bring to the table.”

Abdallah is asking for the community’s support. He will be holding a campaign fundraiser at the Lava Lounge in Dearborn Heights on July 30, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.