By Simon Albaugh \u2013 Yemeni American News<\/p>\n
Dearborn, Mich. \u2013 Looking at Wayne County\u2019s campaign finance website, it\u2019s apparent that two seats for Dearborn\u2019s Board of Education could possibly not be filled. With less than three weeks before the filing deadline, there hasn\u2019t been a single candidate who\u2019s put their name on the ballot for those two seats.<\/p>\n
There are a few reasons for that, explains Dearborn City Clerk George Darany. First, it\u2019s a very demanding position, only without the pay and prestige that comes with other elected offices.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a demanding position to have to be a school board member or trustee,\u201d Darany told the Yemeni American News. \u201c\u2026It seems like everybody\u2019s just busy doing other things and, to commit to that kind of position is just a big commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The term length is also one-and-a-half times that of a state representative \u2013 six years. For this election, the city is hoping to fill the two seats that are up for election until December of 2028, with the term beginning in January of 2023.<\/p>\n
Along with the challenge of the position, Darany says that there\u2019s always a late start for the Board of Education campaigns. Unlike congress or senate, the hyperlocal offices just don\u2019t get as much attention, allowing candidates to wait longer to begin their campaigns.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s typical that people wait to the last minute,\u201d Darany said. \u201cI remember for the last school board race, I think there was 10 people in my office at 3:00 signing up an hour before the deadline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dearborn\u2019s City Clerk said he\u2019s hoping people come in earlier than the hour before for this year\u2019s school board race.<\/p>\n
Still, there is reason to worry that there may not be a selection of candidates for the seat. Darany says he\u2019s talked to the incumbents for the two seats \u2013 Hussein Berry and Pat D\u2019Ambrosio \u2013 and they\u2019ve mentioned that they may be running for re-election. \u201cBut I haven\u2019t seen those petitions yet,\u201d Darany said.<\/p>\n
The Dearborn City Clerk\u2019s Office has prepared informational packets for candidates running for office. In past elections, they\u2019ve been a popular way of understanding the candidacy process. But Darany says he\u2019s even struggling to give these away.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast time we gave away 10 to 15 information packets that were gone really fast,\u201d Darany said. \u201cNow we made 10 packets this year and we\u2019re still sitting on eight of them. No one\u2019s even come in to bother to get the packet of information to learn how to run for the school board.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those interested in running for Dearborn Public Schools\u2019 Board of Education, the deadline is July 26, at 4pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be eligible to run, a person must be at least 18 years of age, a United States citizen, and live within the Dearborn Public School district,\u201d reads a press release from Dearborn Public Schools. \u201cThe district includes almost all of Dearborn and a small section of Dearborn Heights. A person is not eligible for election if they have been convicted of certain felonies in the last 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the city clerk has said, a potential candidate shouldn\u2019t file for election an hour before the deadline. But for those who want to apply, Dearborn Public Schools says there\u2019s a few items of paperwork that a candidate needs to have prepared before the deadline.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe required filing paperwork includes a School Board Candidate Affidavit, and a nominating petition with at least 40 signatures but not more than 100,\u201d reads the press release. \u201cA candidate can pay $100 instead of collecting signatures. A Notary will be available at the office to notarize the affidavit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anyone interested in applying could have an early start to their campaign for a seat on the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education. However, the position is complex, with a number of institutions and stakeholders overseen by the body of elected board members.<\/p>\n
\u201cDearborn School Trustees oversee both Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford College,\u201d reads the press release. \u201cThey are responsible for the budget of both institutions and hiring, overseeing and evaluating the superintendent and college president. Trustees are not involved directly in the day-to-day operations in the district.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dearborn City Clerk\u2019s Office is located at 16901 Michigan Avenue. It\u2019s open from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, with staff who can answer any questions about filing to be a candidate for local office.<\/p>\n