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Key Races Feature Arab Americans As 40 Seek Elected Office

Posted on Tuesday October 29, 2002

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With only one week until Election Day and Republicans and Democrats vying for control of the House and Senate, Arab American candidates are competing in some of the Nation’s most watched elections. New as well as familiar Arab American names will be on the ballot this year as 40 Arab Americans seek elected office across the country.

“In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and growing concerns over a possible war in Iraq, these are critical elections for our Nation and every race counts. Several new Arab American candidates, as well as longtime public servants, have made the commitment to run for office and participate in the political process,” said Jean AbiNader, Arab American Institute (AAI) Managing Director.

The significant number of community candidates has resulted in a first of its kind Senate race for Arab Americans with two community members competing against one another in New Hampshire. Congressman John Sununu (R), who forfeited his House seat to run for the Senate, will face New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen (D), who is married to Democratic activist and Arab American, Judge Bill Shaheen.

Four established and well-known Arab American incumbents, West Virginia’s Nick J. Rahall II (D-3), who is also Dean of the Arab American congressional delegation, Illinois’s Ray LaHood (R-18), Louisiana’s Chris John (D-7), and California’s Darrell Issa (R-49) are all seeking reelection.

In the Maine gubernatorial race, U.S. Representative John Baldacci (D) is running in a heated battle to lead that state. According to the latest poll, Baldacci is in the lead by eight points. Tackling issues such as economic development, health care, education, environment, he has gained the endorsements of the Maine Sierra Club and the Maine’s Peoples Alliance (MPA).

In a tight race garnering an increasing amount of national attention, Arab American Chris Kouri (D), could be added to the U.S. House of Representatives if he wins his bid for North Carolina’s 8th congressional seat. Kouri, an attorney and North Carolina native, worked as a community relations specialist for the Charlotte Neighborhood Development Department and was a member of the Charlotte Organizing Project (CHOP) which helped communities organize on issues affecting their neighborhoods.

In what many political analysts see as a long shot bid, California’s Maad Abu Ghazalah, (L) is challenging 22-year incumbent Tom Lantos. Abu Ghazalah’s social justice and economic responsibility platform has won him the endorsements of the San Mateo Daily News, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANC), and the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA).

Peter J. Ashy (D), a first generation Arab American success story, is running for the U.S. House from South Carolina’s fourth congressional district. After running in 2000 as a Reform Party candidate, he won the Democratic nomination in 2002. An academic with training in chemical physics, Ashy has taught Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Physics at Clemson University and Furman University for 14 years. He is also a state licensed mediator/arbitrator in North and South Carolina.

Incumbent Arab Americans seeking reelection to their state legislature include: Massachusetts State Senator, Steven Baddour (D-3); Illinois State Senator, George Shadid (D-46); South Dakota State Senator Gene Abdallah (R-10); New York State Senator Thomas Libous (R/C-52); Connecticut State Senator David Cappiello (R); Rhode Island State Senators Hanna Gallo (D-12) and Daniel Issa (D-16); Rhode Island State Representative John Barr (D-59); Tennessee State Representative James “Jim” Naifeh (D-81); Connecticut State Representatives William Hamzy (R-78) and Selim Noujaim (R-74); New Hampshire State Representative Benjamin Baroody (D-54); and Pennsylvania State Representative Camille “Bud” George (D-74).

Those making electoral challenges or seeking an open seat include: Tony Sayegh (R-88) for New York State Assembly; David Kawas, for California’s 19th Assembly District; State Representative Nancy Cassis (R-15) for Michigan State Senate; Louisianna’s Suzanne Haik Terrell (R) for U.S. Senate; Paul Hannosh (Reform) for Lieutenant Governor of California; and Bloomington Common Council member David Sabbagh for Indiana State Representative.

Arab American candidates seeking local office include; Massachusetts’ Stephen Abraham for Register of the Probate, Family Division of Worchester; Teresa Isaac for Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky; Wyoming’s Jim Darwish (R) for Teton County Commissioner; New Jersey’s current Councilman in Washington Township Jack Mazloom (R), for Mercer County Freeholder; Ron Dudum, for San Francisco Board of Supervisors; Dennis George for Lebanon City Council, Kentucky; Connecticut’s Fred Anthony (R), for Judge of the Probate; Judges Paul Ghanim and Dianne Yamin seeking reelection for Judge of the Court of the Probate, Danbury, Connecticut; Al Dib for San Fernando Valley City Council; and Ismael Ahmed (D) for University of Michigan Board of Regents.