Arab Americans

About Arab Americans

2009 Roster of Arab Americans in Public Service & Political Life - Former Government & State Officials

Posted on Tuesday June 9, 2009

Former Government Officials

Senior Administration Officials

E. Spencer Abraham, U.S. Senator, Michigan (1994-2000)
Mitchell E. Daniels, Director, Office of Management and Budget (2001-2004); Jr. Asst. to the President, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs (1985-1987)
Judith Rainey Baroody, Director of Strategic Planning and External Affairs, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State
George Doumani, Director of Technology Policy, Department of Energy, George Bush Administration
Zead A. Haddad, Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Energy (2001-2008)
Walid Maalouf, Director of Public Diplomacy, Middle Eastern and Middle East Partnership Initiative, USAID (2004-2008)
Majida Murad, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Department of Energy
Thomas Nassif, U.S. Ambassador (1985-1988)
Selwa Roosevelt, Chief of Protocol (1982-1989)
George R. Salem, U.S. Solicitor of Labor (1985-1989), U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy
Daniel S. Seikaly, Associate Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice
Greg Simon, Director of Domestic Policy, Office of Vice President Gore
John H. Sununu, White House Chief of Staff (1989-1991)
Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director, U.S. National Institute of Health (2002 - 2008)

U.S. Ambassadors

Edward Gabriel, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco
Joseph Ghougassian, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, Advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq
Theodore Kattouf, U.S. Ambassador
Marcelle Wahba, U.S. Ambassador to UAE
Sam H. Zakhem, U.S. Ambassador (1986-1989)

U.S. Congress

James Abdnor, U.S. Senator, South Dakota (1981-1986) (deceased)
James G. Abourezk, U.S. Senator, South Dakota (1971-1979)
E. Spencer Abraham, U.S. Senator, Michigan (1994-2000)
John Baldacci, U.S. Representative, Maine
Pat Danner, U.S. Representative, Missouri (1984-2000)
Christopher C. John, U.S. Representative, Louisiana (1996-2004)
George A. Kasem, U.S. Representative, California (1959-1961)
Abraham Kazen, U.S. Representative, Texas (1967-1985)
Ray LaHood, U.S. Representative, Illinois (1995-2008)
George Mitchell, U.S. Senate Majority Leader (1980-1995)
Toby Moffett, U.S. Representative, Connecticut (1975-1982)
Mary Rose Oakar, U.S. Representative, Ohio (1977-1993)
John E. Sununu, U.S. Representative, New Hampshire (1996-2002); U.S. Senator, New Hampshire (2003-2008)

Administration & Congressional Staff

Samir Abu Ghazaleh, National Cancer Advisory Board (2000-2007)
Luis Acle, White House Office of Public Liaison (1985-1986)
Alex M. Azar II, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, US Department of Health and Human Services (2005-2007)
Michael Baroody, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Labor (1985-1988)
William J. Baroody, Jr., Asst. to the President, Office of Public Liaison (1973-1977)
Lori Sharpe Day, Director & Advisor to the Attorney General, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Justice
Michele Forzley, Office of International and Refugee Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Edmond Haddad, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (1987-1988)
Robert Joseph, Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security, Department of State (2005-2007)
Sam LaHood, Special Assistant, Office of International Affairs, Department of Energy
Terry Abdoo King, Press Secretary-U.S. Mint, Bush Administration
Kelly Sharbel, Principal Deputy Assistnat Secretry of Defense; Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs, Department of Defense
Dina Habib Powell, Assistant Secretary, Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State (2005-2007)
Ali Tulbah, Cabinet Affairs, White House
Raouf Youssef, Egypt Desk Officer, USAID
Sarah Youssef, Associate Director, Domestic Policy Council, Office of the Vice President

Boards & Commissions

Eva Teig Hardy, Southern States Energy Board (2000-2005)
Randa Fahmy Hudome, Board Member, U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board
Naomi Shihab Nye, National Council on the Humanities (2002- 2007)

Former State Officials (Elected)

Chris Abboud, State Senator, Nebraska
Robert Aber, State Representative, Pennsylvania
John, Akouri, Council Member, City Council of Farmington Hills, Michigan
Victor Atiyeh, Governor, Oregon (1979-1987), State Senator, Oregon (1965-1978), State Representative, Oregon (1959-1964)
Anthony Azar, State Senator, Rhode Island
Clem Balanoff, State Representative, Illinois
David Constantine, Governor's Councilor, Massachusetts
John Douglas Barr II, State Representative and Deputy Majority Leader, Rhode Island
Elias Bo Ackal, State Representative, Louisiana
John Broujos, State Representative, Pennsylvania
David Cappiello, State Senator, Connecticut (1998-2008)
George Crady, State Representative, Florida
Wadie P. Deddeh, State Senator, California
Timothy Deratany, State Senator, Florida
Barbara A. Farrah, State Representative, Michigan (2003-2008)
David Farhat, State Representative, Michigan (2003-2006)
Debbie Farhat, State Representative, Michigan (1987-88)
Ted Haik, Jr., State Representative, Louisiana
Charles A. Howell III, Member, Tennessee General Assembly/House of Representatives (1969-70)
Daniel J. Issa, State Senator, Rhode Island (-2008)
Paul Jabour, State Senator, Rhode Island
Morphis A. Jamiel, State Senator, Rhode Island; State Representative, Rhode Island
Michael Jarjura, State Representative (74th District), Connecticut
Ruth Joseph, State Representative, Maine
Nilo Juri, State Representative, Florida
Stephen Kafoury, State Senator, Oregon
David Karem, State Senator, Kentucky
George Kilsey, State Representative, Rhode Island
Fred Koory, Governor, State Senator, State Representative, Arizona
Maureen (Hallal) Maigret, State Representative, Rhode Island; State Director of Elderly Affairs
Harry Meshel, State Senator, Ohio
John M. Michael, State Representative, Maine
Ollie Mohamed, Sr., State Senator, Mississippi
Norman Murdock, State Representative, Ohio
Joseph Palaia, NJ State Senator (11th District)
Scott Rumana, Member of New Jersey General Assembly (2008- )
Edward Saleeby, Sr., State Senator, South Carolina (1972-2002) deceased
Eugene Saloom, State Representative, Pennsylvania
George P. Shadid, Illinois State Senator, 46th District
Jeanne Shaheen, Governor, New Hampshire
Robert Sheheen, State Representative, South Carolina
Vincent Sheheen, State Representative, South Carolina
John H. Sununu, Governor, New Hampshire (1983-1989)
James J. Tayoun, Sr., State Representative, Pennsylvania
E. J. Thomas, Jr., State Representative (27th District)
Jeffrey W. Thomas, City Council, New Kensington
Chris Wakim, House of Delegates, West Virginia ( 2003- 2007)
Tracey A. Yokich, State Representative, Michigan
Sam Zakhem, State Senator, Colorado
George Zainyeh, State Representative, Rhode Island

Former State Officials (Appointed)

Charles G. Abdelnour, San Diego City Clerk
Mary J. Abu-Ghazaleh, Precinct Officer, Democratic Party, South Dakota
Michael Akrouche, Director, Department of Liquor Control, Ohio
Salam Al-Marayati, Commissioner, Los Angles Human Relations Commission
George Bayoud, Secretary of State, Texas
Fred Buderi, Member, Peace and Justice Advisory Commission, California
Dennis Denno, Communications Director, Michigan Democratic Party & Michigan House Democrats
Kaleel M. Ellis, Vigo County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Michael T. Ellis, Vigo County Chief Adult Probation Officer
Omar Ganoom, Deputy State Treasurer, Ohio
Abdel Razzaq Ghalayani, Special Assistant for Ethnic Affairs, Office of Representative Robert Brady
Ted Halaby, Colorado Republican Party Chairman
Richard Ieyoub, Louisiana Attorney General
Samuel Lazieh, Chief of Staff, State Treasurer’s Office, Rhode Island
Maureen Massiwer, Chief of Staff, Governor’s Office, Rhode Island
Stephen Sami Mashney, Secretary, Marin County Democratic Central Committee
Juliet Ristom, Associate Member, State Republican Party, California
Thomas J. Saadi, Asst Attorney General, Connecticut; First Lieutenant, JAG Corp, U.S. Army Reserves; City Councilman
Abdel Salem, City Manager, City of El Centro, California
Richard P.F. Shibley, Deputy Secretary of State, Massachusetts
Saffiya Shillo, Director of Ethnic Affairs, Office of the Lt. Governor, Illinois
Joseph J. Skaff, West Virginia Secretary for Public Safety
Anthony Solomon, State Treasurer, Rhode Island
Robert Stephan, Attorney General, Kansas

Mayors

Richard Anter, City of Fairview Park, Ohio
John J. Ash, Jr., Olean, New York
Adeeb E. Bassitt, St. Albans, West Virginia
Fred Daboul, Mayor Pro-Tem St. Albans, Michigan
Michael Damas, Toledo, Ohio
Alex Daoud, Miami Beach, Florida
Brenda J. Elias, Franklin, New Hampshire
Joseph El-Kateeb, Farmington, Michigan
Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor, Bridgeport
Albert Habhab, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Tommy Hazouri, Jacksonville, Florida
Robert Isaac, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Samuel T. Isaac, Cumberland, Kentucky
Teresa Ann Isaac, Lexington, Kentucky
Paul Jabour, Providence, Rhode Island
Ruth Joseph, Waterville, Maine
Thomas Lazieh, Central Falls, Rhode Island
James Maloof, Peoria, Illinois
Abraham Malooley, Commissioner, Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission, Indiana
Joe Michael, Homer, Lousiana
George Milhim, Hempstead, New York
Herb Mocol, Mankato, Minnesota
Mary C. Moran, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Eugene F. Moses, Azusa, California
George Mowad, Oakdale, Louisiana
Tim Nader, Chula Vista, California
Lee Namey, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Alfred Saliba, Dothan, Alabama
Randel Coy Shadid, Edmond, Oklahoma
Donna Fekay Smith, Pamona, California

Judges

Charles A. Abdella, First Justice, East Brookfield District Court (Massachusetts)
Caram Abood, Judge, 47th Judicial District, Pennsylvania
Charles D. Abood, Judge, Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals
Philip T. Abraham, Circuit Court Judge, Oregon
Lawrence Ackels, Jr., Judge, Texas
Fred Anthony, Judge of Probate, Shelton
Louis E. Azar, Probate Judge, City of Central Falls
George N. Asack, Probate Trial Court Judge, Massachusetts
Miriam D. Balanoff, Circuit Court Judge, Illinois
Robert Balanoff, City Court Judge, Cook County, Illinois
James Barakatt, Judge, California
Rosemary Barkett, Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Court
David Baroody, Judge, South Carolina
John Baroody, Judge, New York
Richard Berry, Superior Court Judge, Iowa
Richard G. Berry, Municipal Court Judge, Los Angeles County
George L. Betro, Court Chief Judge, Utica City, New York
Peter Michael Curry, Senior District Judge, Texas
Peter C. Deddeh, Superior Court Judge, San Diego, California
George Ellis, Senior Judge, Harris County, Texas
John E. Ellis, Circuit Court Judge, Mississippi
James Gabriel, Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court, Massachusetts
Peter Haddad, County Court Judge, Brevard County, Florida
William James Haddad, Judge of the Circuit Court, Cook County, Illinois
Ernest S. Hayeck, Trial Court Judge, Massachusetts
Morphis A. Jamiel, Probate Judge, Town of Warren
Moses Kando, Judge, Workers Compensation Commission
Paul Kfoury, Judge, New Hampshire
Thomas Malik, Judge, Louisiana
Anthony Mansour, Circuit Court Judge, Michigan
Martin Mansur, District Court Judge, Minnesota
Frederick M. Marshall, Supreme Court Judge, New York
Alfred Monsour, District Judge, Louisiana
Alfred Morad, Judge, Southeast Wayne County
John L. Murad, Justice, New York State Supreme Court
Robert A. Nader, Judge, 11th District, Court of Appeals, Ohio
Joseph Nahra, Judge, Ohio 8th District Court of Appeals
Charles Najjar, Judge, Birmingham, AL
Woodrow Nasser, Judge, Terre Haute Superior Court
Kenneth P. Nasif, Justice, Attleboro District Court / Bristol County Juvenile Court (Massachusetts)
George Nazarian, Probate Judge, City of Pawtucket
Deeb G. Sarkas, Judge, Administrative Adjudication Division, Probate Judge, City of Central Falls
William Shaheen, Judge, Durham District Court (New Hampshire)
M. John Shamo, Recorder's Court Judge
Joseph J. Solomon, Municipal Court Judge, City of Warwick
William G. Tajra, Probate Judge, City of Central Falls
Raymond A. Thomas, Probate Judge, Town of Bristol, Rhode Island
Richard Unis, Judge, Oregon Supreme Court
Ernest George Williams, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge