By Simon Albaugh \u2013 Yemeni American News<\/p>\n
Dearborn, Mich. \u2013 On Aug. 3, the City of Dearborn will select 14 of its best candidates for City Council, before the general election’s 7, possibly changing the entire makeup of the elected body.<\/p>\n
18 candidates are competing for the open seats that have decided Dearborn\u2019s COVID-19 response, redefined the character of the city, and continuously guided the financial future of city operations. Nearly all of the 18 candidates are putting their full effort into competitive campaigns, making this race what could be a close contest.<\/p>\n
In this race, Arab Americans are represented like never before, with more than half of candidates coming from Dearborn\u2019s Arab American community. Many are lifelong Dearborn residents whose years of involvement with the city has built rapport with potential voters.<\/p>\n
Four current Dearborn City Councilmembers are running for re-election. Leslie Herrick, Erin Byrnes, Robert Abraham and Mike Sareini are all running on a promise to continue the work that took Dearborn through the COVID-19 Pandemic and other decisions made by the City Council.<\/p>\n
All 18 Candidates for City Council are listed here. For more information on a candidate you\u2019re interested in, see below.<\/p>\n
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Houda Berri<\/strong><\/p>\n Berri is a practicing lawyer in Dearborn, specializing in Immigration, Criminal and Family Law. A lifelong Dearborn resident and 1st <\/sup>generation Attorney, Berri\u2019s hope is to make a city for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cDearborn is my city, but most importantly it is our city,\u201d Berri said. \u201cAs Council Member, it is my duty to make sure your voice is heard. Together we can make Dearborn a city for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Samraa Luqman<\/strong><\/p>\n A Dearborn-Area activist and mother of two, Luqman worked as an advocate in the American Yemeni women\u2019s Association. Her work took on issues like education, civic issues, and environmental justice concerns.<\/p>\n Currently, Luqman is working on environmental justice issues in Dearborn\u2019s southend, one of the hardest-hit areas in the country, per a report by the Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mustapha Hammoud<\/strong><\/p>\n As a lifelong Dearborn resident, Hammoud is looking to focus on tax spending and public services. He decided to run based on a desire to \u201cgive back\u201d to the city that raised him.<\/p>\n Hammoud works as an Engineer for Ford, handling large projects for the automotive company.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gary Enos<\/strong><\/p>\n (No public information available)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lola Elzein<\/strong><\/p>\n Having graduated from University of Michigan-Dearborn, Cooley Law School, and UofM\u2019s Ross School of Business, Elzein\u2019s educational background serves the entrepreneur\u2019s campaign well.<\/p>\n At the top of Elzein\u2019s list of priorities is working to ensure the best services for the city. Public Safety, Property Taxes and city services are also among her priorities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Khodr Farhat<\/strong><\/p>\n An area activist for those with disabilities and other causes, Farhat is a University of Michigan-Dearborn educated politician \u2013 formerly running for Dearborn\u2019s Board of Education.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s fighting to re-establish a commission to represent those with disabilities in our city, protesting corporate polluters in the South End, or advocating for lower property taxes, my goal is to bring the community together and be a voice for reason.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ken Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n This 39-year law enforcement veteran is prioritizing fiscal policy, public safety, investment in development and increased efficiency for city services.<\/p>\n Having worked through Dearborn Police Department and University of Michigan-Dearborn\u2019s Public Safety Department, Paris believes he has \u201cthe credentials to earn your vote based on my demonstrated commitment to City affairs, experience, motivation, integrity, honesty and ability to be fair and balanced.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saeid Alawathi<\/strong><\/p>\n Working for ACCESS as a Business Employment Service Specialist, Alawathi is prioritizing City Services, improving public safety, and managing city spending. Drawing from his 20-year experience as an income tax preparation specialist.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kamel Elkadri<\/strong><\/p>\n A long-time supporter of local initiatives around Dearborn, Elkadri works as a spring baseball coach above his career serving elderly community members. He\u2019s running his campaign on the goals of equal representation and services for all Dearborn residents, as well as public safety and tax reduction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Silvio Davis<\/strong><\/p>\n Born and raised in Dearborn, Davis calls himself a \u201cpassionate advocate for preserving Dearborn\u2019s public pools.\u201d He works as a personal lines supervisor for an insurance company, and also serves as the vice president of Dearborn Goodfellows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jonathon Akkari<\/strong><\/p>\n Akkari is a first-generation university student and the first of his family to obtain a professional degree. His priorities include comprehensive public safety, fair and affordable housing, and environmental justice for Dearborn.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m running for City Council to fight for our working families and ensure we all have the chance to succeed,\u201d Akkari said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Khalil Othman<\/strong><\/p>\n Among the first to publicly announce his candidacy, Othman is running on 5 priorities and a number of professional degrees and certificates. His priorities are ensuring public health and safety, reducing property taxes, reducing water rates, creating youth development programs and sustaining a clean environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kamal Alsawafy<\/strong><\/p>\n Community organizer, lifelong Dearborn resident and Graduate of both University of Michigan-Dearborn and Wayne State University, Kamal Alsawafy put his candidacy on the ballot early.<\/p>\n \u201cI am running for City Council to be your voice, to put in the work and to fight for Dearborn,\u201d Alsawafy said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ziad Abdulmalik<\/strong><\/p>\n (No public information available)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Leslie Herrick<\/strong><\/p>\n One of four current councilmembers currently seeking re-election, Leslie Herrick is seeking her second term with Dearborn\u2019s City Council. She ran her last campaign on major projects like the Dearborn Homecoming Festival.<\/p>\n Born in Dearborn, Herrick has been working a public relations practice for many years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Erin Byrnes<\/strong><\/p>\n Coming through her first term as a Dearborn City Councilmember, Byrnes continues to work as a Democratic Engagement Leader for the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout my first term, I have been a strong advocate for equality and inclusion, and have supported public safety and public health measures to care for our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mike Sareini<\/strong><\/p>\n Currently serving as the Dearborn City Council President Pro-Tempore, Sareini\u2019s background includes a degree from Cooley Law School and a slew of endorsements from local institutions and organizations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Robert Abraham<\/strong><\/p>\n Abraham is the longest-serving Dearborn City Councilmember who\u2019s seeking re-election, having first been elected in 2002.<\/p>\n With a long list of institutions he stays engaged with, Abraham is seeking to continue his work with a sixth term on the City Council.<\/p>\n