Candidate Profile: Mustapha Hammoud For Dearborn City Council

Mustapha Hammoud

Age (as of Election Day)

27

Position Sought

Dearborn City Council

Party Affiliation

Non-Partisan

Family

Abed Hammoud, Father, 55 - Former Assistant US Attorney and currently in private practice
Mona Hammoud, Mother, 49 - Business Banking Sales Manager, PNC Bank
Mazen Hammoud, Brother, 25 - Senior Associate, PWC

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

University of Michigan Dearborn - BS in Electrical Engineering

Occupation

Engineer at Ford Motor Company - 8 years. Currently in Program Control, Electrified Powertrain Engineering

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

HammoudForCouncil.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I was born and raised in Dearborn, attended Dearborn Public Schools, Henry Ford College, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn where I earned my Bachelor Degree in Engineering. I have spent my entire professional career working for Ford Motor Company. Years before that, this city welcomed my immigrant parents and grandparents with open arms. We owe Dearborn, and I owe Dearborn. The least I can do is give back, by stepping up and running for office to serve this city and its residents. Our city has been through a lot these past few years, and I’m running now because the city is at a critical juncture as we recover from multiple crises and welcome a new administration in November with a fresh perspective.
The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single biggest issue our city faces is our tax burden. Our residents do not feel the city has been using their money effectively, and my goal will be to have our budget completely re-evaluated to find savings while also allocating the needed resources to invest in the future of the city. We can find opportunities to reduce tax burdens through state and federal grants, which we will need in order to fix our broken infrastructure. Intelligent city planning, zoning, and regulations can make our city a better place to do business and live, increasing our tax base.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As an engineer at Ford Motor Company for nearly a decade, I have experience managing and delivering multi-million dollar projects on a tight timeline, and I plan to bring that expertise to the City Council. I will always push for data driven, evidence-based best practices in city management of any crisis, whether it be flooding, a pandemic, or any other issues that may arise.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

While I have been politically involved for many years, I am not a career politician, and I see my place as adding a needed voice for fact-based assessments regardless of political considerations. I plan to hold our next Mayor accountable to deliver for the residents of this city. Dearborn residents feel their current council has failed them in that regard. I’m running as an independent voice and I will not be swayed into abdicating my role as a check on the Mayor’s office because I’m looking for another office.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

It was clear our city government was caught off guard, as other governments were. Most noticeable however was a lack of clear leadership from the top. It was apparent then, and even more apparent after the recent floods, that our current administration lacks direction in dealing with issues other than through stop-gap measures. We need to be prepared to deal with any issues that arise, and I would advocate for additional crisis preparedness planning, jointly with the appropriate neighboring city, county, state, and federal agencies as needed. It took too long for our city government to put out statements and reach out to residents with aid and direction.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As a lifelong resident of the city, I know many business and homeowners; A common complaint I hear is about the inconsistent buildings department and outdated or nonsense regulations. My goal is to eliminate the challenges small business owners face when opening a business in the city, and cut red tape at the city departments. I also believe the city needs to make moves toward cleaner air, water, and energy, both in the public and private sectors. We need a reevaluation of our current wastewater and electrical infrastructure, with an eye on preparing for future storms and resident needs. We also have opportunities to make Dearborn more pedestrian, bike, and transit friendly as we transition to new styles of mobility.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Over the course of my professional career, I was successful delivering results toward multi-billion dollar programs. I believe that my mindset of hard work, data-collection, integrity, and knowing when to ask for help will serve the city well if I am elected to the City Council.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Listen more than you talk.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am running for the City Council to bring common sense and long term solutions to ongoing issues we have seen for years in Dearborn. Like many of our residents, my own basement flooded, as did the homes of many friends and relatives. Having several major floods in our city within a few years is unacceptable. We need a serious and knowledgeable council that isn’t afraid to ask questions and hold our new mayoral administration accountable to deliver real solutions to our infrastructure problems. It’s past time to fix our overwhelmed sewer infrastructure, and we must prepare our electrical infrastructure for the future. We need well-informed, committed, and honest elected officials who are not afraid to speak up, and make the necessary decisions to ensure we’re building a welcoming and sustainable Dearborn. Those who know me know that I am independent minded, and never afraid of speaking up.