Candidate Profile: Lola Elzein For Dearborn City Council

Lola Elzein

Age (as of Election Day)

36

Position Sought

Dearborn City Council

Party Affiliation

N/A

Family

Milena Merhi, 9, daughter
Celine Merhi, 3, daughter

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Mike Jaafar - Wayne County Undersheriff
Sam Jaafar - Wayne County Deputy Director of Homeland Security
Nadia Berry - Crestwood School Board Trustee

Education

B.A. University of Michigan - Dearborn
J.D. Thomas M. Cooley Law School
M.B.A University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ross Business School

Occupation

Business Owner, Venture Title Agency (8 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

lolafordearborn.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Dearborn is a beautiful place in which to reside, with great schools, parks, and amenities. There’s so much to be proud of in our city, but I understand that it faces challenges and concerns that must be addressed, including resoundingly high property taxes, lack of vision in the area of economic development, and general lacking city processes. I am running for city council because I am invested. I am confident that my educational and business background, working with local businesses and helping our next door neighbors, have afforded me the knowledge and experience needed to make tough decisions that will positively impact my fellow citizens and our city at large.
The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Dearborn’s property taxes are off the charts! High property taxes have been driving away so many of our investors and young families looking to reside within our city. As a successful entrepreneur with a thriving title agency, I understand the ins and outs of balancing a budget and keeping us in the green. If elected, I will work to identify excess spending in our city’s budget and look for solutions to trim the fat, identify new revenue sources, streamline processes, lower our city taxes, and relieve Dearborn residents of this heavy financial burden.

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

I respect anyone that is willing to take time away from their families and the long list of priorities to serve our community. I believe that is what makes me and my opponents similar. We all have a passion to serve. What makes me uniquely qualified to serve on council is my vested interest in this city as a business owner, parent, homeowner, and civic volunteer.

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

N/A

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

Mom and pop shops lie at the very heart of Dearborn and as many know, the COVID-19 pandemic left many small businesses struggling to withstand the pandemic. As a small business owner myself, I experienced first-hand the economic hardships and pressures the COVID-19 pandemic put on local business owners. I would have taken swifter action to help relieve small business owners of the financial hardships they endured and find creative ways to meet the needs of our local businesses.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Improving Neighborhood Services: I understand that good neighborhood services are critical for so many Dearborn families. After all, nobody wants to live in a city that isn’t clean or safe! I will hold the necessary parties accountable to ensure Dearborn residents receive the very best quality services. I will work with the department of Property Maintenance and Development Services to bring you the safest and cleanest streets. I will ensure Dearbornites feel empowered to get involved and report any quality of life issues they may experience within their neighborhoods, creating a more beautiful and livable community for us all.

Maintaining Public Safety: One of the most attractive attributes of our city is the safety of our communities! Our police and fire departments are key to maintaining our public safety and building positive relationships with city residents. If elected, I will ensure our police and fire departments have access to all the necessary funding, training, and subsequent resources needed to protect our city and serve their communities.

Promoting Economic Development: Mom and pop shops keep Dearborn moving! Our city’s small businesses are integral to our community’s economic resilience. I understand that it’s important for Dearborn dollars to stay in Dearborn businesses, so I will work to eliminate unnecessary red tape which prevents many small businesses from officially launching. I will work to demystify the permitting process and establish relationships with public and private partners to promote business development in Dearborn.

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

As a successful entrepreneur with a thriving title agency company, I understand the ins and outs of balancing a budget and keeping Deaborn in the green. I possess a unique perspective because I meet with families everyday who share with me both their contents and discontents with the city, hearing the stories of families that choose Dearborn as home and also those who choose to leave. This prerequisite knowledge, business expertise, and experience has equipped me to tackle these issues head on, devising new and creative ways to effectively manage our city budget and ensure our residents continue to choose Dearborn.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The measure of one’s character lies in how they choose to face adversity. When challenges come our way, we are presented with two options: we can either choose to allow these challenges to stunt us, making excuses for why we can’t overcome them or we can find ways to grow past our own discomfort and move towards a more innovative and solution-oriented, growth mindset. That paradigm shift will be the driving force of all your decisions. Choose wisely.

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

Dearborn is a tremendously great community in which to reside, its rich history and diversity are some of the main reasons that so many, including myself, choose to call Dearborn home. I am running for city council because I want my kids, like yours, to continue to grow up in our beautiful city and continue to choose Dearborn as a place to live, work, and establish themselves. It would be a great honor to give back to the city that helped raise me.