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Arab Americans Elected to Congress, State Legislature in 14 States

Posted on Monday November 8, 2004

Former OMB Director Mitch Daniels Indiana’s New Governor

Washington- Arab American candidates were victorious in 14 states in an election that saw Arab American Congressmen Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ray LaHood (R-IL), and Nick Rahall (D-WV) re-elected with significant majorities (62%, 70%, and 65% respectively) and former director of the Office of Management and Budget Mitch Daniels elected Governor of Indiana with 53% of the vote.

The Arab American community will miss the leadership of Congressman Chris John (D-LA) who lost his bid for US Senate to Republican David Vitter. The race to fill John’s House seat will be decided in a run-off election next month between Arab American candidate Dr. Charles Boustany® and State Senator Willie Mount (D). Independent presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader won ballot access in 34 states.

87% of the candidates supported by the Arab American Leadership Council PAC (ALCPAC) were successful including: Cong. John Conyers (D-MI), Cong. John Dingell (D-MI), Cong, Henry Hyde (R-IL), Cong. Jim Moran (D-VA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Senator-elect Barack Obama (D-IL).

Election 2004 was an unqualified success for incumbents in state legislature with all Arab Americans holding their seats. State Sen. David Cappiello (R-CT), State Rep. William Hamzy (R-CT), State Rep. David Farhat (R-MI), State Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-MI), State Rep. Ben Baroody (D-NH), State Rep. Camille George (D-PA), State Sen. Hanna Gallo (D-RI), State Sen. Daniel Issa (D-RI), State Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen (D-SC), and State Rep. Jimmy Naifeh (D-TN) will continue their public service. Newly elected State Rep. Mark Strama (D-TX) will join this distinguished group. Strama has a long history of public service including founding the first company to register voters online and serving as director of programs at Rock The Vote, where he helped register more than one million new voters.

The government’s judicial branch will continue to be served by Arab American judges David Allen (MI), Alvin Khoury (TX) and Dianne Yamin (CT). Yamin is the first woman and youngest judge to be elected in her state. While Jack Zouhary lost his election for Ohio’s Court of Common Pleas, he has pledged to continue his service to the Toledo community.

Arab American candidates were active not only at the national and state levels. Successful local campaigns include: Luis Acle, Jr. for San Diego, CA School Board, former Jacksonville, FL mayor Tommy Hazouri for Duvall County School Board, Ted Wahby (D) for Macomb County, MI Treasurer, Sheriff Michael Bouchard for Oakland County, MI Sheriff, City Councilman Mohamed Khairullah for Propect Park, NJ City Council and Sheriff James Telb for Lucas County, OH Sheriff.

Several Arab American newcomers to the political scene made headlines and we’re sure to hear from them in the future. Congressional candidates George Ajjan® in New Jersey, Justin Nadeau (D) in New Hampshire, and Barbara Ferris (I) in Ohio received attention for running positive, energetic campaigns. California State Assembly candidate Ferial Masry’s (D) bid received national and international press coverage, including being chosen as ABC News “Person of the Week.” Masry, who would have been the first Saudi-born American to hold elected, won the Democratic nomination after receiving an astounding 3,000 primary write-in votes. Susie Fortier’s attempt to join her father, State Rep. Ben Baroody in the New Hampshire legislature fell short by just 84 votes. Former State Rep. John Barr (I) was unsuccessful in his attempt to regain his seat in the Rhode Island legislature.

Other notable Arab American candidates include: Wafaa Aborashed for San Leandro, CA City Council, Arkan Somo for El Cajon, CA City Council, Mai Abdul Rahman for Washington, DC School Board, Nicola Hawatmeh® for Macomb County, MI Commissioner, Hussein Berry, Fatmeh Saad, and Jacklin Zeidan, for Dearborn, MI School Board, Jo Ann Hajjar Byrnes for Passaic County, NJ Freeholder, Hosam Mansour (I) for Mayor of Jersey City, NJ, Joe Peters® for Auditor General (PA), and former Town Solicitor Milan Azar (I) for Mayor of Johnston, RI.