By Brian Stone
DEARBORN, Mich. — A candidate for Dearborn city council held a digital fundraiser where they raised more than $20,000 within 24 hours.
Khalil Othman, the candidate for city council, is also a cyber security manager at Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler.
“Thank you to all of the grassroots donors who showed amazing support,” said Othman. “Your belief in our campaign makes me stronger.”
Othman said he has a plan to improve the lives of all Dearborn residents and that the fundraising would help him get the message to the voters.
The big fundraising haul has broader implications for Dearborn’s Yemeni community, which turned out for the fundraiser. The Yemeni community has had sizable numbers in terms of voting, but has sometimes struggled with fundraising numbers for candidates. The big fundraising in a single day is also a sign that other Yemeni institutions like non-profits, and even this newspaper, have a foundation that’s getting stronger by the day.
“This is a very important moment for the whole community,” said Rasheed Alnozaili, publisher of the Yemeni American News. “It shows that we, as a community, are able to fundraise to help candidates for school board and city council, and some day, for mayor.”
Fundraising isn’t the only sign of a winning candidate, though. Othman will have to make his case directly to the voters if he hopes to win. The most well-funded of the new city council candidates in 2017 was Ramez Haidar, who placed dead-last in the general election in spite of raising almost twice as much as winning first-time candidates Leslie Herrick and Erin Byrnes.
“We take nothing for granted,” said Othman to his supporters. “I promise to run the most aggressive, grassroots campaign this city has ever seen!”
Most Dearborn city council candidates have yet to hold any fundraiser. As the weather warms up for spring, candidates are likely to go out knocking on doors, while keeping a safe social distance, in order to gather votes and support from everyday citizens.
It is not yet clear whether there will be a primary election for Dearborn city council. If there are 14 or less candidates by the filing deadline in April, then the city council race will automatically advance to the general election in November.
Editor’s Disclosure: The Publisher and editor participated in the digital fundraiser.
