Incumbent Leslie Herrick seeking re-election to Dearborn City Council
June 27th, 20210 DEARBORN — Leslie Herrick is looking to retain her seat on the City Council. “I am running for re-election to the Dearborn City Council because I’m eager to continue the work I began four years ago when I was first elected by listening to residents, addressing their concerns, delivering first-class services and improving...
Kalette Willis becomes first African American woman to run for Dearborn mayor
June 26th, 20210 DEARBORN — Kalette Willis, a Henry Ford College (HFC) student and a Gulf War veteran, has become the first African American woman to run for Dearborn mayor. Willis, a pioneer resident artist at Eastborn’s City Hall Artspace Lofts, considers herself a liberal artist in residence. “I am an American soldier, Gulf War Veteran,...
Kamel Elkadri shares his vision for Dearborn in hopes of being elected to the City Council
June 23rd, 20210 DEARBORN — Kamel Elkadri wants to bring his vision for Dearborn to the City Council. “I decided to run for City Council because Dearborn has given me and my family so much and I want that same opportunity for others,” said Elkadri, one of 18 candidates competing for the seven Council seats. “My father immigrated to this...
Taylor City Council candidate responds to criticism over anti-Arab comments
June 19th, 20213 TAYLOR — Following the “Free Palestine” protests in Dearborn last month, one Taylor City Council candidate took to social media to share his views. The protests were in response to the Israeli attacks on Palestine that killed 256 Palestinians, including 66 children, and injured 1,900. Sam Ditzhazy, a resident of Taylor since...
Yemeni-American Michigan Democratic Caucus announces endorsements for Dearborn, Hamtramck candidates
June 16th, 20210 DEARBORN/HAMTRAMCK — The Yemeni-American Michigan Democratic Caucus (YAMDC) announced its endorsements for Dearborn and Hamtramck City Council and mayoral candidates. For City Council in Dearborn, the group is endorsing Mustapha Hammoud, Samraa Luqman, Khodr Farhat, Khalil Othman, Kamal Alsawafy, Saeid Alawathy and incumbent Leslie...
Erin Byrnes looking to serve Dearborn for another term on City Council
June 16th, 20211 DEARBORN — With all seven seats on the City Council up for grabs this election, Councilwoman Erin Byrnes is looking to hold on to her seat by running for re-election. Having been born and raised in Dearborn, Byrnes went on to graduate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn before going on to graduate school and serving as a...
Mike Sareini looking to retain his seat on the Dearborn City Council
June 12th, 20210 DEARBORN — With all seven City Council seats up for grabs, Councilman Mike Sareini is one of 18 candidates and is hoping to retain his seat. Sareini, 49, is a married father of five and a lifelong Dearborn resident. His mother, Suzanne Sareini, held the seat for 24 years before he decided to run the same year she announced she...
Denise Malinowski-Maxwell kicks off her mayoral campaign
June 11th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — As one of three mayoral candidates in this year's election, Denise Malinowski-Maxwell has kicked off her campaign with a fundraiser event. The event was held at the American Legion in Dearborn Heights. With recent endorsements from the Teamsters 299 and the Region 1A UAW, many members of the community and...
Mo Baydoun looking to retain his seat on the Dearborn Heights City Council
June 6th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mo Baydoun, who was appointed to the Dearborn Heights City Council earlier this year, is running to retain his seat. Baydoun was appointed to finish out former Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton’s term once she was elected treasurer in November. In 2017, Baydoun ran for a full-term seat on the City Council and...
Westland mayoral candidate removed from the ballot
June 5th, 20212 WESTLAND — After a hearing on Wednesday, an election commission deemed that mayoral candidate William Asper was to be removed from the ballot. Asper told The Arab American News that he believes he was removed from the ballot illegally. “I am running for mayor to stop the corruption,” he said. “They stated that residency...
James Parrelly wants to show his love for Dearborn by running for mayor
June 3rd, 20210 DEARBORN — Financial planner James Parrelly is one of seven people vying for the residents’ votes for mayor in the August 3 primary election and, ultimately, the Nov. 2 general election. Parrelly had run in the 2017 election, but lost in the primary. He said he believes he is the thought leader in the campaign. “I was...
Emgage endorses Abdullah Hammoud for Dearborn mayor; Hassan Ahmad and Mo Baydoun for Dearborn Heights City Council
June 2nd, 20210 DEARBORN/HEIGHTS — Emgage has announced its endorsement for Abdullah Hammoud for Dearborn mayor and Hassan Ahmad and Mo Baydoun for Dearborn Heights City Council. Emgage's website says it is a family of civic and political institutions dedicated to strengthening the engagement of Muslim Americans in the civic and political process,...
Redistricting: What is it and why it matters
May 29th, 20210 By Hayg Oshagan What is it? Every 10 years, every state redraws all of its district election maps. For Michigan, that’s 110 House district maps, 38 Senate district maps and 13 U.S. Congressional district maps. Once these are drawn, you elect your Michigan House, Michigan Senate and U.S. Congressional representatives based on...
Tom Wencel running for re-election to Dearborn Heights City Council
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Coming off of his first term on City Council, Councilman Tom Wencel has decided his job is not done and is running for re-election. “I decided to run for re-election because during my first term on the City Council we have made such tremendous advancements for the residents of Dearborn Heights, and we’re just...
Dearborn city clerk accepting absent voter ballot applications
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN — The city clerk’s office is now accepting absent voter ballot applications for the 2021 municipal primary and general elections. The clerk’s office mailed the applications on May 18. Clerk George Darany said that more than 14,000 absent voter (AV) ballot applications were mailed so registered voters could request......
Bill Bazzi kicks off his campaign for Dearborn Heights mayor
May 22nd, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Friends of Mayor Bill Bazzi helped him kick off his mayoral campaign by hosting a special event fundraiser in his honor. Nasser Beydoun, chairman of the American Arab Civil Rights League (ACRL), hosted the intimate gathering at the Bellagio Banquet Center in Dearborn Heights. “When you pick an elected leader...
Saeid Alawathi looking to serve Dearborn as a member of City Council
May 11th, 20210 DEARBORN — As a resident of Dearborn for nearly 40 years, Saeid Alawathi has decided to put his name on the ballot for one of the seven City Council seats up for election. Alawathi is a Yemeni immigrant who grew up in the Southend of the city before graduating from Fordson High School and later completing his associate degree in......
Detroit police chief announces retirement, won’t announce candidacy for governor
May 9th, 20210 DETROIT — Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced his retirement on May 10, and while many reports speculated on his candidacy for governor, he has not yet confirmed his interest. Craig, 64, has been chief since being appointed in July 2013 by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. When Craig took over the department, it had been under a...
Community activist Samraa “Sam” Luqman announces bid for Dearborn City Council
May 8th, 20211 DEARBORN — Longtime resident and social activist Samraa “Sam“ Luqman is seeking one of seven open seats in this year’s election for Dearborn City Council. “As an active Dearborn resident, I have been advocating for years for my neighborhood of the Southend to be heard,” Luqman said. “To put it simply, I decided to run...
Dearborn Council candidate Jon Akkari looks to increase services through public safety reform
May 8th, 20211 DEARBORN — Jon Akkari, an attorney born and raised in Dearborn, is vying for a position on the City Council this year. A primary election is set for Aug. 3, with a crowded field of Council and mayoral candidates. Akkari is the son of a Lebanese immigrant father and third-generation Dearbornite mother. His father has been a blue...
Mustapha Hammoud wants to “give back” by running for Dearborn City Council
May 8th, 20211 DEARBORN — Lifelong resident Mustapha Hammoud has entered the race for one of seven City Council seats that are up for election. Having been born and raised in Dearborn, Hammoud attended Dearborn Public Schools, Henry Ford College and the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in......
Dearborn Councilman addresses withdrawn special meeting
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN — A special City Council meeting was scheduled for May 4 and was withdrawn shortly beforehand by Councilman Bob Abraham. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the option of putting some ballot questions before voters in the August primaries. The topics scheduled for discussion were to consider and take action on the...
D7 school bond proposal passes
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On May 4, voters passed the $6.4 million bond proposal in the city’s D7 School District to help school enhancements. The bond is a net zero tax increase to the community members, so the district says that residents will not see an increase in their taxes. The bond will be split up between three large......
Lola Elzein is running for one of seven seats on the Dearborn City Council
May 1st, 20210 DEARBORN — With all seven seats on the City Council up for grabs in this year’s election, Lola Elzein is one of 18 candidates vying for one of those seats. Elzein was born and raised in Dearborn and is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and recently earned an MBA from the Ross...
Anthony Camilleri running for Dearborn Heights mayor
May 1st, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Anthony Camilleri, a local businessman and resident for more than 49 years, has decided it’s time to run for mayor. Camilleri said that in his campaign, he will strive to work with and for all residents. “My goals are to build a stronger, safer, better community,” he said. “Everything I set out to......
