Voters in Dearborn will get to decide in November the majority of the members on their School Board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four seats are up for grabs – three for a full, six-year term and one for a partial, two-year term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four incumbents are running in the elections, and although the contests are technically two separate races, the winners will serve together on the same council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s what you need to know about the elections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who are the candidates for the full term?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Adel Mozip:<\/strong> An incumbent, Mozip was appointed to the board in April 2019 and elected to a full term in November 2020. He works as an advanced software developer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and has long been an education advocate in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mary Petlichkoff:<\/strong> She is a veteran of the school board. Petlichkoff served as a trustee from 2008 to 2011 and returned to the board after winning the election in 2014. She has been involved in the schools as a parent and a member of the parent\u2013teacher association (PTA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nasri Sobh:<\/strong> An attorney with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Sobh was appointed to the board in 2025. He is also an adjunct professor at Henry Ford College. He has worked with students and families through educational nonprofit and programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mallak Anani: <\/strong>A lawyer and former teacher, Anani is a product of Dearborn Public Schools. She is a mother and one of eight siblings. She says her background and experience equipped her with “deep expertise in education”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mohamed Ali Hammoud: <\/strong>He is an attorney and graduate of Dearborn Public Schools, whose son is getting his education in the district. He says he is ready to “serve with hard work, integrity, and a deep love for this community”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who are the candidates for the partial term?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali K. Bazzi: <\/strong>Appointed to the board in 2025, Bazzi has three children who go to school in the district. His background is in business consulting, digital communications and strategic planning. He is involved in several charitable organizations, including Zaman International.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nofila Haidar: <\/strong>She is a real estate agent and community advocate. Haidar ran unsuccessfully for the School Board in 2014. Haidar is a product of Dearborn Public Schools. Her campaign stresses “independent, student-first thinking”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why are there two separate races?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The contest for the three full-term seats are regularly scheduled elections. The race for the partial term is taking place because trustee Hussein Berry resigned last year to run for the Michigan House of Representatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bazzi was appointed by the board to replace Berry until the next election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When is the election?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Election day is on November 3 as part of the midterm vote. Early voting begins on October 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on election day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How are the results tallied?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the full term, you can vote for up to three candidates. The top three vote-getters will be elected to the board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the partial term, only vote for one candidate. The winner will be a trustee for two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are the candidates Republican or Democrat?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Local elections in Dearborn are non-Partisan. So, if you select a straight party ticket for political offices, such as governor, US senator and state legislators, you still have to manually fill in the candidates for the school board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does the school board do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The board is akin to a legislative body for the school district. It approves the budget, appoints the superintendent and conducts oversight on behalf of voters. It also oversees adherence to the laws and hears public input. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Board members also act as trustees for Henry Ford College. <\/p>\n