Campaign Pool Increases For Dearborn City Council Seats
A total of 11 candidates have pulled petitions for the 2013 council election.
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As the May 14 deadline to file to run for office approaches, more names are emerging as possible candidates for Dearborn City Council—from business owners to law enforcement officials to attorneys.
One candidates has also pulled petitions to run for the mayor’s seat. Mayor Jack O’Reilly has not pulled petitions as of Feb. 19, but did announce his intention to run for reelection at a fundraiser breakfast on Feb. 7.
More: Who Will Run For Mayor of Dearborn in 2013?
Here’s a look at the full list of candidates for Dearborn City Council, in order by the date on which they pulled petitions:
- Colette Richards, secretary with Dearborn Public Schools
- Michael Albano, wireless consultant
- Maureen McIlrath, founder of the Going Green Foundation.
- Robert Bochanek, sales representative
- Mohamed Berro, retired Dearborn police officer and realtor
- Robert Watson, building official
- Susan Dabaja, attorney
- Steve Guibord, owner of the Double Olive
- Patrick Melton, deputy sheriff with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department
- Tarek Baydoun, attorney
- Michael Berry, self-employed
None of the seven sitting members of city council have pulled petitions.
All candidates must turn in 100 valid signatures by May 14 to be considered for the ballot. If more than 14 candidates are confirmed, a primary election will be held in August. If not, candidates will move on to November’s general election.
Several candidates have written about their decision to run and background in Dearborn Patch's Local Voices section.
Watch Dearborn Patch this spring for full profiles on all confirmed candidates.
Pam
8:32 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I am looking forward to reading more about these folks. We need a clean sweep.
Jim
8:52 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I agree with Pam, I will not vote for any member of the current council. A clean sweep of this Rubber Stamp council is needed.
laplateau
10:11 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Jim/Pam,
Please---do not throw the baby out with the bath water. That's what you would be doing with your clean sweep idea. Unfortunately, the good council members are in a distinct minority presently. You have to tune in or attend council meetings and understand the issues to hear the objections to many of the wasteful requests coming from the mayor's office by two of our worthy council members. Tom Tafelski and Brian O’Donnell are pretty much the ONLY members that have any sensibility; the other 5 are blind to practicality and are tied tightly to the mayor...who after all, in my opinion, is the root of our problems. So please, tune in and understand what is really going on before we throw out the good with the bad.
Mootown Voice
11:38 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tafelski and O'Donnell are the only hope of the lot. Hubbard, Bazzy, Sareini, Abraham and Shooshanian can pack it up.
Donna Hay
11:53 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
If you believe the rumors Brian will not be running again and Tom will be running for Mayor so it could very well be a clean sweep.
laplateau
12:49 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Donna...no, Brian does seem to be running. I just received in the mail today, an inviation to his fund raiser at Fr. O'Kelly's K of C...I believe it was for March 13. I'll not only be there, but I'll write a healthy check for the cause. I sure hope many others do too. And, as for Tom running for mayor, last I spoke with him he was still on the fence. I, and many others are trying to convince him to make a go of it. Reading the displeasure people out here seem to have with O'Reilly, I think he has a great opportunity.
Jessica Carreras
1:09 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
But if Tom is not successful in his run for mayor, he will also lose his council seat. Tafelski supporters, I'm curious to hear ... do you think it's worth the risk?
edward binkley
3:33 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Actually Jessica I hope that Tom runs because I would rather get beat badly by him than a puppet master like O'rielly I know I'm gonna get beat but at least I'm gonna learn something. and maybe there will be another chance someplace else. Was offered a job out of state but this will decide whether i take it or not. need some help .I am not a quiter but thinking but it with everyone calling me a joke and telling me i have rocks in my head. starting to run out of motivation so Tom Run.
pat clark
4:25 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Jessica:
I don't think its a risk. T. Tafelski will beat O'Reilly if he choses to run. Here's hoping he does.
PClark
edward binkley
4:11 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
are you the pat clark that is married to mark clark and has a father in law by the name of john clark if so contact me..
Sue Suchyta
3:28 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Is the "Robert Bochanek" possibly Robert Bochenek, former Dearborn police officer?