who was arab alabama first mayor

And they talked to me a little bit about it, and I told them back then that I thought, in 08, it should have been $100,000 or $110,000. [17], Woodfin promised throughout the campaign to conduct a forensic audit on city finances,[18] but upon taking office instead conducted a performance audit. Hammoud said his fundraising has been proportional to the support he received in the primaries. Hammoud is completing his third two-year term in the Michigan House of Representatives, to which he was elected when he was 25. Although he only accepts a portion of it, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson makes $89,000, while Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks makes less than Fuller, at $65,000. Abdul El-Sayed, a public health expert who ran for Michigan governor in 2018 but fell short of winning the Democratic nomination, also said Hammouds victory will resonate beyond Dearborns city limits. Micho Assi, an Arab American advocate, said Arab voters are not looking to elect just any Arab candidate but look for ones with the right qualifications. So he stuffed pamphlets and passed out flyers at a polling place until he could get the T-shirt that supported the candidate that shared his same last name. Arab Mayor Bob Joslin was recently named the Outstanding Mayor of the Year during the 2017 ACE Star Awards at the Alabama Communities of Excellence Annual Community Reunion in Clanton. Howell, the academic, said the mayoral campaign took a nastier turn than what many observers were hoping for. The Mayor approves the financing of all City of Arab operations, and negotiates and executes contracts on behalf of the City. Arab was incorporated as a town in 1892, but it did not first report a population on the census until the 1920 U.S. Census. [2] He graduated from Morehouse College, where he majored in political science and was student government association president. Yalla Vote means Hurry Up and Vote in Arabic. Hammoud is serving his third term as state representative for Michigans 15th District, which includes Dearborn. Electricity service in Arab is provided through Arab Electric Cooperative, which buys power through the Tennessee Valley Authority. And the same thing for our politics. Volunteers campaign for Abdullah Hammoud in Dearborn, Michigan, US November 2 . Responses received from city governments before deadline are provided. Success is not measured by being the first, but by setting a good example to pave the way for others, he told Al Jazeera. Arab, Alabama. He has said the sudden death of his older brother, Ali, in 2015 pushed him to re-evaluate his purpose and run for office. Now, are we there yet? At that time, the increase was from $52,000 to $72,000, a decision which was made after 16 years of no adjustments, according to Fuller. Bill Bazzy, an immigrant from Lebanon, an engineer, retired U.S. Marine, and former City Councilperson was appointed mayor in January 2021 after the previous mayor, Dan Paletko, died in December 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19. [3] Woodfin earned a Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Every step alone cannot be connected with all the progress. Candidates today, he says, already know how to run a campaign from having worked on other campaigns. I dont think it would be as meaningful if it wasnt for the fact that you had previous mayors who ran campaigns explicitly on: Hey, weve got to control this Arab population, its getting out of hand.. Reed will be sworn in Nov. 12. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Ive got the most experience in public office by far; its not even close, he said in a recent campaign ad. About 13.3% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over. Woronchaks campaign did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment. Im a member of the millennial community. He served for 16 years as Mayor Pro Temp. Nearby Hamtramck made national news in 2015 when it elected the first Muslim majority City Council in the country. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. [39], He endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, despite having received Bernie Sanders' endorsement during his 2017 mayoral race. Former Director of Resource Management at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dearborn, Michigan, elects its first Arab American mayor | CNN They shouted out the names of their favourite candidates, urging passersby to vote for them. American Community Survey, 2017, U.S. Census Bureau. And to get it, you had to volunteer.. And as recently as 1985, mayoral candidate Michael Guido, who won the election that year, released a campaign flyer addressing what he called the Arab problem. You can cancel at any time. Arab Precinct (Marshall County 26th Precinct) first appeared on the 1920 U.S. Census. In 1998, we had a lot less Arab Americans registered to vote, a lot less Arab Americans involved in that process, a lot less Arab Americans who will even run for things, he said. If it goes in a way that it looks like the Arab vote was very unified behind a single candidate, I think its a force to reckon with, he told Al Jazeera. Cell: (256) 506-6424. There were 3,693 housing units at an average density of 284.1 square miles (736km2). A 15-year-old from Tuskegee was the sixth person to be arrested in the mass shooting that took the lives of four people and injured 32 people . The Office of the Arab Mayor provides information on Arab government programs, government policies, and Arab boards and commissions. Dearborn is home to one of the largest Arab-American communities in the United States. Popularity:#1 of 4 Mayor Offices in Marshall County#27 of 101 Mayor Offices in Alabama#673 in Mayor Offices. Published Sultan Al Neyadi became the first Arab citizen to spacewalk The Mayor recommends actions to the City Council, presents proclamations and awards, and performs ribbon cuttings for new businesses. Were the front runners in each of these primaries to win their respective races, we would certainly see history being made., FILE IMAGE: Farhana Quayoum (L), Angel Ouza (C) and Rhima Aoun volunteer at a rally encouraging Arab-Americans to register and vote in Dearborn, Michigan, February 4, 2004. Both Hamtramck and Dearborn are already magnets for anti-Muslim activists who frequent the area when they want to harass Muslim worshippers, burn qurans, pose for Instagram in heavy armor outside a mosque, or seek to disrupt Muslim American festival goers, Howell says. 2023 County Office. He also started using the slogan For all of Dearborn. He did, and was elected Mayor in 2012, and was re-elected to a second term in October 2016, which expires in 2020. The current mayor of Benton Harbor, a city near the western edge of the state, Marcus Muhammad, is also Muslim American. The city has pressing local issues, including property taxes, public safety concerns and repeated flooding. He was first elected in 2016 and has since been re-elected twice. Opportunities for higher education are provided by Alabama A & M University, John C Calhoun State Community College, George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, and many other colleges and universities. His remarks came after a video emerged of Hammoud speaking at a mosque where he urged greater voter participation from Arabs and Muslims making references to our community. Wayne County Commissioner Al Haidous, a Muslim immigrant from Lebanon, was mayor from 2002 to 2014 in the city of Wayne, which doesn't have many Arab-American residents. And its a lot of responsibility, whether its me doing it or somebody else doing it.. [7], In 2013, he ran for a seat on the school board again, this time successfully. Arab (/e.rb/) is a city in Marshall and Cullman counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located 10 miles (16km) from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. He is the first Arab to embark on a long-duration space mission. Public Schools, Homeland Infrastructure Foundation. He & wife Paula, both from Wichita, Kansas, celebrated their 56th year of marriage on December 22, 2018. . As far back as Jesse Jacksons 1984 presidential campaign, US politicians vying for national office have courted the Arab vote, particularly in Michigan. . CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). [1] He previously served as president of the Birmingham City School Board (20132015) and as a city attorney of Birmingham from 20092017. Council seats are at-large and are not associated with districts. This is the equivalent of $1,230/week or $5,330/month. The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. An undisclosed illness has seen OReilly fade away from public life in the past year. But experts, including Stiffler, suspected that Dearborn has had an Arab majority for years a reality not reflected in the Census, which counts Arabs as white, skewing the statistics. Although Bazzy is already mayor, he seeks to legitimize that appointment by being elected to the role this November, facing off against city council Chairperson Denise Malinowski-Maxwell to finish Paletkos and to start a new term beginning in January. U.S. Rep Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, estimates that 40 to 65 percent of homes in Dearborn were damaged in June floods, and Michigan Gov. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,461. Arab, Alabama - Wikipedia I was brought up to make everyone around me friends and neighbours alike to feel like family.. The symbolic capital of Arab America, Dearborn, Michigan, finally has an Arab American mayor to speak on behalf of this unique population. So for these cities to be led by Arab Americans would be a game changer., Hamtramck, for example, has never had a mayor who is not Polish, Howell added. We are seeing a greater effort in both voter registration and candidate outreach to the community. [3], What is now Arab was established by Stephen Tuttle Thompson in the 1840s, and was originally known as "Thompson's Village". A star since . Dearborn is the greatest city in the whole country and everybodys just learning it, said Hammoud, an epidemiologist, child of Lebanese immigrants, and graduate of Dearborn High School and University of Michigan Dearborn. U.S. Route 231 runs north-to-south through Arab, and State Route 69 runs east-to-west, through the city's business district. Randall Woodfin - Wikipedia The City of Arab has a mission to foster and sustain a living environment that cultivates progressive awareness and the acceptance of diverse cultural differences, while maintaining a wholesome family atmosphere. Home of the Hicks and White trash where the crack flows like the Mississippi River. And so because of that, were going to continue working within the community and the community can mature even more., This years elections, 20 years after 9/11, are more than Muslim and Arab American communities flexing their political muscle. Over the past five years, Hammoud gained a reputation as a left-leaning lawmaker, endorsing Bernie Sanders for president in 2020 and describing himself as a pragmatic progressive. Woodfin won the October 3 runoff with 58.95% of the vote, becoming the city's youngest mayor in over 120 years. If he wins, it would make official that the Arab American community here is fully immersed in Dearborn.. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). In a historic victory, a 31-year-old state legislator born to immigrants from Lebanon defeated a 66-year-old veteran politician to become the first mayor of Arab descent of Dearborn, a city long . [50] He is engaged and is Christian. In recent years, the Arab community has seen a steady increase in voter turnout and the rise of several local politicians, including Hammoud. In the August primaries, Hammoud and Woronchak were the two highest vote-getters in a pool of seven candidates. We all come from the Arab world where theres no democracy. Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a Communities Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour out of Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan. Changes in U.S. immigration laws in 1965 and a long string of political conflicts abroad also contributed to the growth and diversity of this population. Ironically, he gave his own son the same advice his father gave to him: dont do it. By not increasing the salary until 2020, the city arguably saved money that it otherwise would have spent, Smith T also highlighted. 2000 census data. All Rights Reserved. [37] The next morning Woodfin ordered the removal of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park to try and prevent another protest. Woronchak, 66, a former state representative and county commissioner, said his long years in government make him more qualified to serve the city than Hammoud. The Mayor approves the financing of all City of Arab operations, and negotiates and executes contracts on behalf of the City. appreciated. | Photographer American Elite Studios, courtesy of Abed Hammoud. Opinion | All politics is local. All of Alabama's mayors races this year Gretchen Whitmer requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for four counties. Our Revolution President Nina Turner visited Birmingham twice to campaign for Woodfin. Cherokee Ridge Mayor and Town Council sworn in [6], In 2009, Woodfin became an assistant city attorney for Birmingham, a position he held until he was elected mayor in 2017. There were 3,223 housing units at an average density of 252.4 square miles (654km2) . The Mayor is held publicly accountable for the performance of all City services. Work. Taking the oaths were, above, from left, Councilman Scott Nixon, Councilman Preston Jacobs . Asked about his early success in politics, he said, Most people in Dearborn view me as somebody they grew up with as a brother, a son, a grandson. Abdullah Hammoud, the son of Lebanese immigrants, was born and raised in Dearborn, where he was elected mayor on Tuesday. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. About 8.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over. Suggest Listing Abdullah Hammoud: Michigan city elects its first Arab mayor Islamophobia and anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiment will also impact some peoples perceptions of representatives of these communities, particularly considering the areas history. Arab has its own paid police department. Be proud of your name, be comfortable in your identity, because itll take you places if you work hard, youre passionate and you inspire people.. UAE astronaut exits ISS for first Arab space walk - Yahoo News UAE's Sultan Al-Neyadi Becomes 1st Arab Astronaut To Complete - NDTV The Mayor serves as the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of Arab City Government, and is responsible for the implementation of all City Laws & Operations set forth by the Office of the Mayor and the City Council. Woronchak, a former state representative and county commissioner, had promoted his own close ties to the Arab community during the campaign, arguing that his years of government experience made him better suited for the job than his younger opponent. [49], He grew up with three siblings; his older brother Ralph was killed by gun violence in 2011. Bob Joslin - Facebook John B OReilly has had the seat since 2007, having ascended to it after being city council president for 17 years after the death of then-mayor Michael Guido who had been in office since 1986. I am a member of the Dearborn community. For ecologically minded gardeners, a new nursery has opened in Auburn featuring flora native to our state. The city of Arab was founded by Stephen Tuttle Thompson and was originally known as Thompson's Village. [10] The city is primarily in southern Marshall County; a small portion extends south into Cullman County. Woronchack has questioned the large sums his opponent has raised nearly $545,000 compared with approximately $95,000 he garnered, according to a report by the Detroit Free Press earlier this month. Election results show that with seven candidates vying for the seat in the Aug. 3 primary election, State Representative Abdullah Hammoud received 42.36 percent of the vote and former State Representative and former Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak came in second with 18.17 percent of the vote. I think thats the hope we have for families all across our city, that we tackle not only the issues that are impacting us today, were laying the foundation for a city that will hopefully only grow to be greater for generations to come., Left: We have to immediately start adjusting the climate crisis by putting forth bold and innovative proposals, he said. Abdullah Hammoud - Wikipedia Decades after 'the Arab problem,' Muslim and Arab Americans - PBS The mission also includes an improved quality of life through economic growth and development, continuously seeking ways to increase revenues, and the ongoing expansion of local Infrastructure. With the victory, he also becomes the citys first Muslim mayor. Fuller, who is seeking reelection in 2020, highlighted that hes given the city council a list of his annual donations from his salary since 2008. Arab, Alabama - City Information, Fast Facts, Schools, Colleges, and More Randall Woodfin (born May 29, 1981) is an American lawyer and politician who is the 34th and current mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, after winning the October 3, 2017, runoff against incumbent William A. If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you. ", "With First Demolition, Woodfin Promises "Aggressive" Approach to Blight", "Teen killed in Tarrant shooting was Birmingham mayoral candidate's nephew", "Police Chief A.C. Roper Retires as Mayor Woodfin Looks to Make Personnel Changes at City Hall", "Birmingham Hires LA Commander to be New Police Chief", "Mayor Woodfin unveils PEACE Campaign to counteract violent crime", "Birmingham homicides by year - Bhamwiki", "Birmingham Mayor Woodfin gives State of the City address", "Birmingham: 2020 homicides hit 25 year high, 2021 starts with a torrid pace", "Mayor Woodfin's $15 million COVID-19 Response Plan Approved by the Birmingham City Council", "Birmingham Residents Ordered to Shelter in Place, Leave Home for Only the Most Essential Activities", "Birmingham passes mask requirement to be an 'oasis' in a 'wild west', "Protestors deface Confederate monument in Birmingham", "Birmingham's ban on peaceful protests is unconstitutional, civil rights group says", "Alabama attorney general sues Birmingham for removing Confederate monument", "Woodfin makes endorsement in 2020 Democratic presidential race", "Exclusive: Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Endorses Joe Biden for President", "Democrats Unveil A New Kind of Convention Keynote", "Birmingham mayor announces Civilian Review Board to improve police accountability", "BCS high school seniors can now apply for Birmingham Promise", "Woodfin testifies on cannabis legalization before congressional subcommittee", "A Bernie Sanders-backed candidate just got elected mayor in the deep south | CNN Politics", "Despite Pledges, Birmingham Barely Out of Gate on Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Sustainability", cities with populations exceeding 100,000, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Randall_Woodfin&oldid=1148060953, 21st-century African-American politicians, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 April 2023, at 20:52. Hammoud received 42 percent of the votes, Woronchak 18.5 percent. The increase represents a compounded 4 percent annual jump within a 12-year range, which totals $115,274.32. Michigan State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn) speaking at the Michigan Muslim Day celebration at the state capitol on April 14, 2019 | Photograph courtesy of Michigan House Democrats. Mayor Kelley has overseen the growth of his city from 6,000 in population to over 20,000. Males had a median income of $32,425 versus $24,265 for females. This summer, three intense thunderstorms in Southeastern Michigan caused severe flooding of thousands of homes in several Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, and Detroit neighborhoods signs of aging infrastructure and accelerating climate change. The Office of Mayor is a part-time position. She said Hammouds election would be historic. Friday, he undertook "the first Arab spacewalk in history," wearing a space suit that bears the Emirati flag, said the United . As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,461 people, 3,177 households, and 2,094 families residing in the city. After eight well-deserved years of retirement, Bob was encouraged to run for the Office of Mayor. Im running as, more than anything, a son of Dearborn. [17] The census division only includes the Marshall County portion of the town of Arab. As Opelikas mayor, Gary Fuller manages the city of Opelika in a similar manner as Buston does for Auburn, in which department heads report to them. Residents fed up with repeat flooding are asking if their neighborhoods have been intentionally neglected, and are taking particular interest in the mayoral races this year. How much does a mayor in Alabama make? - OANow.com [36], For years, Birmingham residents had been requesting Birmingham take down the Confederate monument located in the park across the street from Birmingham City Hall. [31] Additionally, 2020 resulted in the highest murder rate in Birmingham, Alabama in 25 years.[32]. The Arab population is counted as a sub-category based on national origin, which leads to undercounting. The Mayor, is held publicly accountable for the performance of all City services. Besides the race for mayor, Dearborn also elected a new seven-member city council and the members of a commission that will draft a new charter for the city outlining basic local governing principles. Cherokee Ridge Mayor and Town Council sworn in. Somebody who was born and raised here, who happens to be Muslim Arab American.

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