Politics & Government

Dearborn Mom Says Fire, Police Protection Top Priority if Elected

Dearborn Patch will profile candidates running for office in the Aug. 6 city primary.

Editor's note: All nine elective offices in Dearborn are on the primary ballot — mayor, clerk and all seven city council seats. There are five candidates for mayor, three for clerk and 21 for council. Dearborn Patch will run profiles of candidates seeking the office of mayor, city clerk, and city council leading up to the Aug. 6 primary election.

Today we feature candidate Susan Dabaja.

Candidate: Susan Dabaja

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Office sought: Dearborn City Council

Occupation: Attorney

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Education: Edsel Ford High School (1995); University of Michigan-Dearborn, Bachelor of Science (2000); University of Detroit-Mercy, School of Law, Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, graduated 1st in class (2004).

Family: Mike (husband); Children: Claudia, Joel and Adam

Previous elected office: None

Current public service: Member of Dearborn Education Foundation; treasurer of Dearborn Bar Association; actively involved in several community organizations and other pro bono volunteer services.

What are two key issues in Dearborn?

As a mother of three children, one important issue that concerns me is the preservation of our city’s fine public services and safety. My family, like yours, wants to live in a city that offers safe and clean neighborhoods.

As a professional with an established law practice in Dearborn, I believe another issue that is key to our city’s success is the revitalization of our business districts.

How will you address these issues?

Our public services can be maintained if we continue to work hard at finding methods to maximize our resources and reduce costs without compromising the quality of services Dearborn residents richly deserve.

I will also strongly encourage the continued participation in our city’s numerous neighborhood associations under the Dearborn Federation of Neighborhood Associates, as they have the ability to communicate our concerns and interests as residents. Additionally, the issue of rental homes is a rising concern for many residents, and I will work hard to ensure that our city’s Rental Task Force registers all rentals and that these homes are held to the same standard as those that are owner-occupied.

In order to preserve our public safety, I feel it is important to uphold our charter mandate to have a minimum number of staff for our police and fire departments. For our continued safety, it is vital that Dearborn continues to have quick response times.

One of my priorities is to develop strategies to strengthen our businesses and create jobs. My goal is to have vibrant business districts with high occupancies on both the east and west ends of city as well as throughout Dearborn.

My background as an attorney working with small local businesses for the last nine years has helped give me a keen understanding of the challenges and issues our business community faces in trying to compete and succeed in what has been a tough economy.

My experience in this area will help the city shape new policies and programs that will assist Dearborn firms in growing their businesses and sustaining job growth.

For more information, visit http://www.susandabaja.com/.


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