Dearborn Candidates Submit Petitions; Primary Election Set for Aug. 6

Seven incumbents were among the 29 Dearborn residents who turned in petitions to run for election by the 4:30 p.m. deadline on Tuesday.

According to Dearborn City Clerk Kathleen Buda, the following candidates will seek election in the Aug. 6 primary:

Mayor

• Ziad Abdulmiak, a student.
• Tahir Hassan Alaragy, investment consultant
• Edward Binkley, handyman
• Nofila Haidar, self-employed
• John B. O'Reilly, Jr. (incumbent)

Clerk

• Kathleen Buda (incumbent)
• Khalil Dakhlallah, tudent services liaison
• Mark Jess Dawdy, operations manager

City Council

• Robert Alex Abraham (incumbent)
• Jane Ahern,
• Michael D. Albano, a wireless consultant
• Tarek Baydoun, attorney
• David Bazzy (incumbent)
• Mohamed Berro, realtor
• Bob Bochenek, sales representative
• Susan Dabaja, attorney
• Stephen S. Dobkowski, Jr., self-employed salesman
• Sharon Dulmage, registered nurse
• Steven Guibord, business owner
• Maureen McIlrath, CEO
• Patrick Melton, Wayne County sheriff’s deputy
• Brian O'Donnell (incumbent)
  
• Mary K. Petlichkoff, community activist
• Colette Richards, Dearborn Public Schools media secretary
• Mike T. Sareini,
• Mark Shooshanian (incumbent)
• Thomas Tafelski (incumbent)
• Kristyn Taylor
• Robert Watson, building official

Buda's office said she’ll have to certify each candidate’s petition signatures to make sure they’re eligible to be placed on the ballot. State election laws mandate that Buda have the verified petitions to Wayne County election officials by May 20. 

Potential candidates have to live in the city and get 100 signatures of support from registered voters.

The leading vote-getter in the general election will be the council president for the following four years; the runner-up will be president pro tem.

The voter registration deadline is July 8 for the primary election, and Oct. 7 for the general election. Voters can register at the clerk’s office; the driver’s license bureau at the Dearborn Police Station, 16099 Michigan Ave.; or any Secretary of State office.