May 11th, 20180PATERSON, NJ — Andre Sayegh registered a resounding victory in Paterson’s six-man mayoral contest on Tuesday, capturing the office that he failed to gain in two previous elections.
Using the theme “One Paterson”, Sayegh converted alliances he reached with community leaders from various ethnic groups into a coalition that...
March 9th, 20180GARDEN CITY — Garden City Mayor Randy Walker announced he is running for the 11th district seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, which comprises Garden city, Inkster and portions of Westland, Livonia and Dearborn Heights.
Walker served four two-year terms as mayor before being elected to a four-year term in...
February 9th, 20180DEARBORN — After much contention from residents and even within the Dearborn Historical Commission, the late Mayor Orville Hubbard's statue has a new plaque that acknowledges his hatred for Blacks.
The statue's placement, prominently displayed outside the Dearborn Historical Museum on Brady Street, is already controversial. But just...
January 12th, 20180DEARBORN — During the inauguration ceremony for Dearborn city officials on Jan. 9, Mayor Jack O'Reilly told the audience that Dearborn is a unique community.
"I have to tell you there aren't communities like Dearborn all over the place, said O'Reilly, who was sworn in for his third full term. "There aren't people that come together...
November 10th, 20170DETROIT — On Tuesday, Nov. 7, incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan retained his seat, defeating State Sen. Coleman A. Young II in a landslide victory, with 72 percent of the vote.
"It's been a year-long campaign and though all of the different kinds of attacks, I've been treated with nothing but warmth and kindness from Detroiters… I am...
November 10th, 20170HAMTRAMCK — Mayor Karen Majewski won reelection to a fourth term on Tuesday, Nov. 7. She received 1,960 votes, while Mohammed Hassan finished with 1,231.
The overall voter turnout in the city's Nov. 7 general elections was 22 percent.
In the City Council race, Fadel Al-Marsoumi became the second Arab American elected to that...
November 10th, 20170DEARBORN HEIGHTS — It looked to be a close race between Mayor Dan Paletko and City Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton in Tuesday's election, but once the absentee votes were counted, Paletko won by 1,143 votes.
Paletko won with 4,467 votes, which was 55.83 percent of the total votes for mayor, and Hicks-Clayton received a total of...
November 10th, 20170DEARBORN — A few months ago, a slew of new names on the Aug. 8 ballot signaled a community was gaining leverage in the local political sphere.
While Arab Americans dominated the polls on Nov. 7, their victories were not among the elected candidates, but in the weight of their vote.
Dearborn's primary elections saw a handful of...
November 3rd, 20170DEARBORN – The Arab American Political Action Committee’s (AAPAC) 20th anniversary gala was a celebration of political successes.
Six days before the Nov. 7 municipal elections, Arab Americans packed a large dinner hall at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn and reflected on two decades of achievements and looking forward...
October 27th, 20170
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The main races in the November 7 election are between incumbent Mayor Dan Paletko and challenger Lisa Hicks-Clayton, and also for the four open City Council seats.
Paletko has been mayor since 2004. He came in first in the Aug. 8 primary election, with about 1,000 votes more than Hicks-Clayton.
In the City...
October 27th, 20173By Farah Harb
The Arab American News – intern
DETROIT – On Nov. 7, Detroiters will vote for mayor, elect City Council candidates and choose a city clerk. These elections are the first to take place since the city emerged from state control under Michigan’s emergency manager law.
Because it has come a long way since 2013,...
October 27th, 20170DEARBORN — There is a lot on the line in the city — from major investments and revitalization projects, to alleviating high property taxes and diversifying the workforce. As they battle in a heated race, the two mayoral candidates say that on Nov. 7, Dearbornites will have a chance for the first time since 2001 to stick with already...
October 27th, 20171HAMTRMACK – A few divisive races and shake ups in the City Council are bound to emerge during elections in a town as diverse as Hamtramck.
After a contentious debate over who to appoint as the new city manager, disparaging remarks by a Council member and a state investigation over voter fraud by an incumbent Council candidate,...
October 20th, 20170DEARBORN – It was an unfavorable outcome for some new candidates in Dearborn and neighboring cities' primary elections, but some might have another shot at making it into office on Nov. 7.
After a passionate debate on Tuesday, Oct. 17, The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) endorsed candidates in the general elections...
October 17th, 20170DEARBORN — The city has had its fair share of shock and scandal during recent elections, but it took the first contested mayoral race since 2001 to land incumbent Mayor Jack O'Reilly and his opponent, long-time City Councilman Tom Tafelski, in a media frenzy over poor judgment and regretted deals.
Increasing transparency in...
October 6th, 20170DEARBORN — During a candidate forum hosted by the Dearborn Area Board of Realtors on Wednesday, Oct. 4, the incumbent mayor and City Council members addressed the possible sale of 40 acres of Camp Dearborn, which has had residents fretting on social media.
According to a press release by the city, 40 of Camp Dearborn's 626 acres may...
September 29th, 20170DEARBORN — On the two-year anniversary of the removal of former Dearborn Mayor Orville Hubbard’s statue from City Hall, the city’s historical commission made a decision in hopes of putting the much-debated issue to rest.
However, it didn't come without some contention among museum administrators.
On Sept. 26 at the...
August 18th, 20170DEARBORN — Many gears work in concert to make a city run. Government bodies like the mayor's office and the City Council, as well as departments like human resources and engineering, and several commissions, all play vital roles in maintaining the high quality services residents expect.
Most Dearbornites, almost half of whom are of...
August 11th, 20170HAMTRAMCK — Even though 33 percent of Hamtramck's residents are Yemeni, only one Yemeni candidate— Mohammad Al-Somiri— made it to the general elections this year.
Yemeni American Councilman Saad Almasmari said the community was hoping educator Akil Al-Halemi would make it through the City Council primary race because of his high...
August 11th, 20170DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On August 8, Dearborn Heights held its municipal primary elections for mayor, City Council, City Clerk and treasurer. Mayor Dan Paletko won first place in the mayoral race, followed by Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton who came in second. The two candidates will face off in the general election on November 7. Eduardo...
August 11th, 20172DEARBORN — Despite excitement about this year's primary elections, the bustle of many campaign volunteers outside polling locations and significant mayoral races, the average voter turnout in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck was about 22 percent.
Several incumbent Arab American candidates in the three cities secured their...
August 4th, 20170DEARBORN — Five months after the city placed the controversial statue of former Mayor Orville Hubbard on the Dearborn Historical Museum's lawn, it has been moved again.
The statue had been in front of the building on Brady Street, but now it's on the side of the McFadden Ross house, further away from public sight.
According to...
August 4th, 20170One might think that Dearborn prospers businesswise— mainly as home to Ford Motor Company's world headquarters—yet it doesn't, due to the lack of change in the system and in the administration.
Many businesses have moved out after Dearborn established restrictive ordinances. Business owners began setting up shops in nearby cities...
July 28th, 20171As Dearborn Heights' community and economic landscape transforms to reflect its neighboring city of Dearborn, so must the city's government transform to reflect its constituents.
Over the years, many Arab Americans have steadily moved from Dearborn to Dearborn Heights, a bedroom community whose obstacle to tremendous ambitions has...
July 14th, 20171DEARBORN — After a lengthy process, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) endorsed candidates for various positions in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights' for the August 8 primary elections.
For two days, the group interviewed candidates running for mayor and City Council in both cities, and for city clerk in Dearborn....
July 7th, 20170By Stephen Martin
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On July 5, local food blogger Zee Shami held the grand opening of her new culinary studio, ZeeTheCook. The studio offers cooking classes, etiquette coaching, unique culinary workshops and birthday parties, as well as fall, spring and summer camps for children.
It also offers adults a variety...
April 4th, 20170DEARBORN HEIGHTS ― As the April 25 filing deadline for municipal elections draws near, dozens of candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to compete for available city positions.
Dearborn Heights is facing shifting demographics, reflecting that of its neighbor, Dearborn, where nearly half of the 22 candidates for city...
