Field for Dearborn Council Swells to 26
Thirteen more Dearborn residents have pulled petitions to run for Dearborn City Council, bringing the number to date to 26.
When we last wrote about this race on March 4, just 13 had pulled petitions. For that story, click HERE
It isn’t yet clear whether all will run but if the field stays larger than 14, and it appears that will indeed happen, Dearborn will have to hold a primary election for city council in August. The filing deadline for those interested in running for council is May 12.
We will be the first to say that Dearborn residents like their incumbents, which means it could be more of the same. However, if the unhappy mood today from residents about their city government and the state of their city carries into the voting booth in November, we could see a lot of fresh faces on city council.
All of the current council members have pulled petitions to seek reelection, except Tom Tafelski. Odds are he too will seek reelection, although some around town keep dropping hints to us that he is considering a run for mayor.
So the list looks like this: Council members, Robert Abraham, George Darany, Nancy Hubbard, Suzanne Sareini, Mark Shooshanian and Doug Thomas are all in.
Those hoping to unseat this group include:
- David W. Bazzy (former Charter Commission member)
- Michael Berry (ran a solid but unsuccessful campaign for council in 2005)
- Khalil Dakhlallah
- Mark J. Dawdy
- Stephen S. Dobkowski Jr. (former Charter Commissioner later removed from office because of unpaid property taxes)
- Sharon Dulmage (former school board member)
- Andrew Giordano
- Bradley Hajec
- Rabih Hammoud
- George Hart (a former state senator who long ago retired from politics. He turns 82 in May)
- Trinette L. Jordan
- Vincent Laing
- Scott J. Marquette
- Maureen A. McIlrad-Noland
- Brian C. O’Donnell
- Mark. A Otlewski
- Ali Sayed (runs Hype Athletics in conjunction with Dearborn Rec. Dept.)
- Kristyn Taylor
- Raymond T. Trudeau (former Charter Commissioner)
- Adrenne M. Wygonik (wife of 19th District Judge Richard Wygonick)
April 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am
This is wonderful and as it should be! It is time to challenge the status quo and at the very least force the overly comfortable incumbents to get out and campaign. Hopefully the field of candidates will continue to grow. And, if past will not be prologue, and we in Dearborn actually will see some real change on the council.
Why not term limits for city council?
April 20th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
There are a number of losers as far as the incumbents are concerned, maybe now is the proper time for a shake up.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Mom, I could not agree more about challenging the status quo. Although I may not support all the new faces running come election time, but I am certainly happy that the current council will have some competition. Makes for a very interesting election, n’est ce pas? Can’t wait to see who else pulls petitions, too! I am not sure I am ready for term limits, however, because I believe they have unintended consequences and don’t accomplish what they purport to.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I’d like to concur with School Mom and celebrate the range of solid candidates that could be on the ballot for Council…I’d like to, really, but I cannot.
Although I am not familiar with all of the candidates listed here, I feel that those I do recognize represent a cross-section of:
– out of touch has-beens,
– self-serving egotists, and
– clueless incompetents.
This, of course, is not to say they would not be an improvement over some current Council members. My concern is that a large field will make it very difficult for a truly exceptional candidate to shine through. And Mom, while I think your comment on term limits is intriguing, I’ll go you one better: how about council seats by ward?
April 21st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
A new bar is opening soon directly next to the chocolate store in west dearborn village. Across from Lecigar. This will most likely be the death blow to the bars in that area. They are billing it as the new Birmingham Corner Bar. Word around town so far is buzzing amongst the bar scene. It will be a huge draw. About time!!
April 21st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Council by ward is a very interesting concept. I wish this would be in place. Lets hope the ward system passes, and term limits too. If we really want a shake-up, its our only hope for fresh people, with fresh ideas.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Another way to penetrate the dinosaur dynasties that permeate our government from national to local levels would be to stagger the terms. In other words, instead of having all of the city council members run at the same time every four years, why not do away with the concurrency and allow for a few to be up for re-election this time, another few or four in another two years.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:53 pm
School Mom, your idea has merit and has worked in other venues. I’m not for term limits though, as if they’d been here during the Hubbard regime, Dearborn would have not been anywhere near as wonderful as it was in those days. Even today it’d be different. Staggering the terms is the best way.
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:08 am
…..And the plot, or dare I say “plotters,” thickens. Boy oh boy, I recognize a few names on that list that could contain some volatile personal agendas. Please, pretty please, do your voting homework and vet EVERY SINGLE candidate, INCUMBENT or not, to the highest scrutiny. Tumultuous times are upon us with no sign of letting up in sight. We NEED and DESERVE honest, forthright, moral, and transparent individuals to guide this city back to respectability.
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:11 am
I remember Mark Dawdy from when he and I both ran for Mayor. He’s a very nice man.
During that election period, my car died. When Tim Powers and the Press & Guide invited all the candidates down to make their case, I had to walk there through the freezing snow. After that was done with, I started walking home; Dawdy saw me and offered me a ride. He didn’t have to do that; none of other candidates bothered to look. He genuinely cares about people and what’s more he genuinely cares about Dearborn. (I’d like to think that’s the motive for all those in the running.)
I don’t know how good a job he’d do as a councilman, or if he even has a chance of winning. His big problem (and mine) in the Mayoral election was standing out from the large pool of candidates. Either way, I hope he does well this year; anyone’s better than Doug Thomas and I positively shiver at the thought of a Councilwoman Wygonik.
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Tom,
Adrenne Wygonik is a great candidate.
She is highly educated – she has a Masters in Public Administration – as well as being a certified Nurse Anesthistist (a person who gives “puts you to sleep for surgery”). She is smart enough to ask the questions that need to be asked. Such as, “How will we pay for it?” and tenacious enough to keep digging for answers.
She wants to put the city finances on line so we can all see what the city spends money on.
That sounds pretty good to me.
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Karen,
In all honesty, I actually mixed up Wygonik with another local political figure; that’s what I get for posting comments late at night. I apologize to you, to Ms. Wygonik, and to her other supporters for my idiotic comment.
My thoughts on Mark Dawdy and Doug Thomas remain precisely the same. (There’s certainly no mistaking the latter for anyone else.)
And is it just me, or does Tom Tafelski– the way he carries himself at council meetings, the rumors of a possible run for mayor, even his physical appearance– remind one quite a bit of the fictional Councilman/Mayor Tommy Carcetti on the television show “The Wire”? And I mean that, if not quite as a compliment, than as merely an observation; I’m not trying to knock Tafelski in any way.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
When are we going to get good candidates, to run for Mayor, as the current one is a complete joke.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Apologies for my disbelief, Karen. You must be a relative or her campaign manager. The Wygonik web is shady and deceitful. Just do a little unbiased research and connect the dots. Take note of publicly documented campaign contributions and support. Please also remember that the books can be “cooked” to ones own recipe. I will not trust this candidate as far as I could throw her, her husband, their lackeys, or their pack of predators.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:43 am
The motto ‘Vires acquirit eundo’ (meaning, in its literal translation, ‘we gather strength as we go’. In other words, LX.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:54 am
@Wendy: I think Mayor O’Reilly is an intelligent, compassionate, and hard-working mayor– a more-than-competent administrator who is doing an admirable job of shepherding our city throgh a difficult time. As I said in my recent interview over at The Counter Project, I think he’s certainly doing a far better job than any of the candidates in the last race, myself included, ever could. You obviously disagree; do you care to eludicate as to why?
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
There are at least two on the the present council who should not run for re-election. They should re-examine their contributions and the perspectives they have contributed over the past few years. Do they truly add anything worthwhile or are they just occupying a chair? A council seat shouldn’t be an inheritance, an entitlement, nor a position that one occupies to be in the public eye and enjoy socializing at events. A councilperson should be forward-thinking, with a good grasp of what Dearborn faces in these troubled economic times, and should be ready to work and solve these ugly and controversial problems head on. We are facing some huge crises and things aren’t going to get better any time soon. The sleeping dinosaurs on the Council know who they are, and they should step aside and walk away. Thank you for your service! Your time has come and gone, and now others will come up and take the reins. Yes, folks, please do your homework before you vote.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Mr. Russell you got a lot of balls to rave about O’Reilley, as you must work for him. What has he done, except give the people a lot of lip service. He is a lazy do nothing type of administrator. He rarely is seen about in the community, unless it is a political function. Even his peers on the council laugh at him — he demands no respect from them, as goes along to get along. Wendy was correct, bring some creditability back to our city, do something — anything.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Wygonik and her old-man both suck. They both bad-mouthed the arabs and their community a few months ago. We don’t have short memories. She is done this year, and he’s done next year. Over and out.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Get a grip, Allie. Just because you and Mayor O’Reilly don’t hang in the same social circles doesn’t discredit him or the job he does. Put your money where your mouth is; which of our esteemed council members “laugh at him?” Mayor O’Reilly bleeds Dearborn blood. He may not be effecting enough change for you or others but he is working on it as he, and his wife, are true, blue Dearborn! Mayor O’Reilly is the most intelligent mayor we’ve had in the history of Dearborn. He may not be as savvy or as charismatic as his predecessors but he certainly gives 150% effort.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I have to agree withy Tom and Vires, O’Reilly has roots in this city going back generations. Questioning his policies and methods is one thing but it has been proven unequivocally that he cares about this city and community and is probably the most eduucated and intelligent mayor we have had here. And I Don’t know where Amy hangs out but I always see the Mayor at almost every local event I attend as well as out with his family at our local restaurants and shops. Perhaps it is Amy that is out of touch with the happenings of the community.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I have had many dealings with Mayor O’Reilly and agree that he is true blue Dearborn and extremely intelligent. If anyone has ever watched council meetings, even when he was a councilman, it is clear that he is very aware of facts and situations, and very intelligent in his assessment and abilities to communicate the issues at hand. The only flaw I can personally see about the good Mayor is that he is sometimes too slow and deliberate in his decision making. Even so, give him some credit, he tries to make sound, well thought out decisions, and does have the benefit of the City in mind in all he does. As far as our City Council members, Susan Hubbard is a decent and caring person, but is very scattered and you often wonder if anyone is home half the time. Doug Thomas has a long history in local politics, but cannot even bring himself to be present for far too many council meetings. He seems to be simply goung through the motions and he cannot rest on past laurels as an independent thinker. What about Mark Shooshanian? He seems to be disinterested at every meeting and has nothing to say unless it deals with Fordson High sports. Candidates, especially incumbents, have a tendency to be re-elected on name recognition. Hubbard in particular is popular with seniors that remember her father as Mayor from a bygone era, and that she returns phone calls and attends events to listen to residents, but she does not really know what day it is sometimes. In particular, Hubbard, Shooshanian and Thomas need to go to make room for more energetic and intelligent candidates.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Yes I agree with Tom, Jason and the Professor using the Latin moniker. “Mr.” O’Reilly is all the things you said, blah blah blah. I agree with Allie and Wendy that “Mayor” O’Reilly is a do-nothing, a joke. I bleed Dearborn blood, too. I don’t think O’Reilly is stupid, or that he doesn’t care about the city, or that he isn’t intelligent or educated. But, correct, he isn’t effecting enough change for me. And yes, he’s working on it. He’s working on it, always working on it. He knew he would be Mayor a long time before the election. He has been Mayor for how many years now? His inner circle of advisors, department heads and his committees are the same cronies, liars, incompetents and dead weight that have been stinking up City Hall for a decade, at least. O’Reilly is no leader, no shepherd, no go-to type guy. He was a damn good Council President. Smart as a whip. He’s a horrible Mayor. He simply cannot function in that capacity because he cannot make decisions. Just coasting along always “working on it.” We’re all true blue Dearborn. We’re all bleeding Dearborn blood. But O’Reilly’s working on it! He is putting together a committee to form a committee to look into putting bandaids on spurting arteries.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
As an American of Arab descent, I believe comments attributed to the Wygoniks referring to Talal Chahine as a “crook” and Arabs being “tribal’ in nature hardly constitute an anti- Arab attack. Those who believe so obviously have an agenda. But what is it? Why are they so desperate to displace that judge and Judge Somers?
And, if Talal Chahine doesn’t fit the definition of a “crook”, who does?
April 24th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Wait until Mark Guido retires at the end of this year. you might see a few more changes out of O’Reilly.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Posted by “Homegrown”: “As far as our City Council members, Susan Hubbard is a decent and caring person, but is very scattered and you often wonder if anyone is home half the time.”
Apparently, the council person to whom you’re referring has it together to a greater degree than you do. Before you call someone else “scattered”, you’d better assess your own cognitive abilities. Not only is Susan Hubbard not on the Council, she’s not even running this year (so far).
April 24th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Also by Homegrown: “Doug Thomas has a long history in local politics, but cannot even bring himself to be present for far too many council meetings.”
Now you’ve really got me wondering about your perception. Doug Thomas has been able to be present for far too many council meetings for many years.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Mary M. you must be an astute person. What you had to say was very intelligent. Big Jack is no leader, he is certainly a follower. What has taken place with Norwood in the building dept. is embarrassing, and criminal (yet he keeps him there). We demand chantges, and if the big fella doesn’t do it, he will be out, hopefully.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Annie
I agree Norwood should be gone, so shoud a whole lot others. The rumor is he promised the late mayor to keep them on until his term (which Jack is filling) is up. How true this is I haven’t a clue. He has fill a couple of spots, but that was because of vacancy. So far there isn’t any real competition. Tefelski may run but the clock is ticking, just a few more weeks to file those pititions. As far as the council goes, there is a lot of dead weight there and a clean slate would be the best thing. Of course this is Dearborn and people vote for names, not qualifications.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I could spend all day pointing out your mistakes, but this won was driving me crazy. Nancy Hubbard is on council not Susan.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
To “Huh?” and “Just Saying”: Everyone who has previously posted is well understood, despite typographical, spelling, grammar and minor content errors in their postings. I won’t “eludicate” on this “won” further, although you self-appointed English Language Police don’t express yourselves any better than the rest of us. I find this to be very entertaining in and of itself. However, “Huh?” and “Just Saying”, why don’t you two go ahead and submit your thoughts and comments on the subject mater being discussed. I enjoy those interactions even more.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Can we put things into perspective?
Stephen S. Dobkowski Jr. was removed from the Charter Commission because he went to the FBI about fraud (city officials taking bribes) and city officials did not like that. The reason given by city officials when he was later removed from office was incorrect and an excuse. The truth is his Mother was behind in paying taxes on their family home and it was in the name of his Mother not Stephen. City officials wrongly tore down his family home.
Conversely, Robert Abraham was not removed from office even though he bribed Zoning Board of Appeals officials and owed $80,000 in unpaid property taxes.
“It’s all in who you know.”
April 26th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
From Mary M: “why don’t you two go ahead and submit your thoughts and comments on the subject mater being discussed. I enjoy those interactions even more.”
No need. I only wanted to point out the irony of someone referring to a specific council person as “scattered” and being unable to get her name right. That’s not a typo or minor content error. That’s….well….”scattered”.
April 26th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Hey, go easy on Homegrown. It is easy to mix up both Hubbards, Nancy and Susan, because they both have no business in government positions. Both Nancy Hubbard and Susan Hubbard have single digit IQs. As a Wayne County commissioner, Susan Hubbard was a joke. Now she is a lawyer. So hard to believe. Nancy Hubbard as a councilwoman is an embarrassment to our city. Nice woman and friendly but she is elected on name only. Having a nice personality isn’t what is going to help a city in crisis. Sorry folks, time for both Hubbards to stop running for public office.
April 26th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
That’s YOUR perspective, John. Truth be known, Stevie D. inherited the house from his deceased mother’s estate several years prior to 2005, the year in which he was incorrectly elected to the Charter Commission. Mr. Dobkowski presented his case over several hearings in Detroit (NOT 19th district in Dearborn) that ultimately did not rule in his favor.
Now let’s also add that Mr. Dobkowski spoke to the City Council recently, in person, regarding the Abraham situation. Mr. Dobkowski actually spoke in defense, for lack of a better term, of Mr. Abraham and the “default” to the city situation. Mr. Abraham’s debt has since been 100% paid in full including any/all late fees or administrative costs.
So, who do YOU know?
April 27th, 2009 at 8:13 am
I was not pointing out typo’s or misspellings I too sometimes just type my thoughts without really checking the grammar, however, I was pointing out an incorrect fact that many tend to put a name or fact out that I just have to comment because I know is false.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:02 am
My apologies to all, I stand corrected. Yes, I was referring to Nancy Hubbard, not Susan Hubbard. Susan Hubbard was from a different time when she was a Wayne County Commisioner, former City Council, and has run for Wayne County Circuit Court judge and for our local 19th District Court judge. Same story, elected on name recognition, but far more intelligent than her Aunt Nancy. Nancy has the senior vote and from those that only use name recognition as a means to be an informed voter. Far too many voters in Dearborn have not done their homework when voting for council. What does Mark Shooshanian contribute? As far as Doug Thomas, take a look at his attendance record at council meetings the past few years.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:49 am
If we are going to talk about residency requirements in local elections, may I suggest going back to the Dearborn 19th District Court race of 2005 or 2006, when Susan Hubbard was one of the 6 candidates running to unseat Judge Richard Wygonik.
Her residency was questioned, but not investigated at taxpayers expense, unlike poor Steve Dobkowski’s similar situation. Even though she used her father’s Dearborn address, while residing in West Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, not even in Wayne County, where she was an official, and where county residency is required, Susan was allowed on the ballot.
The only difference between Susan Hubbard’s residency issue and Steve Dobkowski is in the spelling of their names.
Steve should change his last name to Hubbard and nobody will say a word.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Well, I wonder what Adrenne Wygonik said about Dearborn that was considered to be “bad-mouthing” Dearborn. If Abe would use her exact words I bet that most of us would agree.
The city is not clean anymore. Look at the plantings that surround the parking lots in West Dearborn are of full of litter.
Perhaps she mentioned that the city made a deal with Burton-Katzman that did not require BK to post a bond before the taxpayers bought them a multi multi million dollar parking lot.
Maybe she said that the sewer projects were ill conceived and poorly engineered so tat they are falling in.
Please let us all know what Ms. Wygonik said. We can decide if it was “badmouthing” or just noting the the emperor has no clothes.
All the discussion about the Mayor position is interesting but all of us know that the Mayor will be reelected. So, lets try to figure out who would make a good council member so that the council might start making O’Reilly do something other than “work on it”.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Abe-
I am sure you are refering to the fact that Ms. and Judge Wygonik can Shaine (sp? owner of LaShish) a terrorist. He is! That does not make them against arabs to say it. Just because someone calls someone for what they are doesnt make them a racist. He is a terrorist who wants to use American money to blow up America!!