Dearborn Mayor Appoints Diverse New Team, Plans to Hire Public Health Adviser
By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press
The new mayor of Dearborn has hired a diverse new staff and has plans to hire a health director to help deal with COVID-19, mental health and substance use problems.
As COVID cases continue to spike in Michigan, the city canceled on Friday an in-person inauguration event planned for Jan. 15. The event was instead held virtually.
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud took office and announced several new department heads , including a new chief of staff, Zaineb Hussein, formerly deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Hussein replaces Mark Guido, the former chief of staff who began working in the mayor's office after his cousin, former Mayor Michael Guido, took office in 1986. Hussein is the first Arab American to serve as chief of staff in Dearborn.
The hiring comes as the new administration is looking at ways to eliminate a $16 million budget deficit after voters rejected a tax millage in the November 2021 election. The new appointees were sworn in Wednesday and other appointments are expected later this month.
Hammoud sent a survey to city employees last week asking them for suggestions and thoughts about how to help run the city.
Hammoud made several other appointments last week, including Amanda Bright McClanahan as chief operating officer. She previously served as both chief financial officer and chief operating officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, or MEDC, and budget director for the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Hammoud also has hired Mansour Sharha as director of technology and innovation, a newly named department.
Sharha, who has 20 years of IT experience, is the first Yemeni American to lead a department in Dearborn's history, the city said. Yemeni Americans are the second-largest ethnic group in the city after Lebanese Americans, but have struggled to gain political influence. Hammoud is the first Arab American to serve as mayor of Dearborn, which is about 47% Arab American, according to 2019 census data.
"We found highly qualified, highly competent, highly trustworthy individuals who happen to be diverse," Hammoud said. "I think it's one heck of a team that's going to be coming together to help move the city forward."
Salaries for the new appointments were approved by the City Council last week, Hammoud said. Once the salaries are set, the mayor has the authority to choose department directors.
After his first full day in the office, Hammoud addressed residents via Facebook.
"It's a new era for Dearborn," Hammoud said. "We're super excited about the administration that we're pulling together, super excited about the work that we have ahead of us, and want the residents to know that we have a competent and qualified team that is coming to the table to help tackle and address the issues that Dearborn residents are facing each and every single day."
During severe flooding in Dearborn last summer , residents raised concerns about communication and transparency from city officials.
Hammoud said the new city government leadership is "going to be as accessible and transparent as possible," and will look to use social media more effectively.
The city will work on ways in which "constituents can reach out and have their concerns heard," Hammoud said.
Public health is another issue Hammoud hopes to focus on, starting with a search for a public health director.
Dearborn used to have a city health department and was one of a few cities outside of Detroit that had one. But for budget reasons, the department was eliminated about a decade ago.
Now, with a number of health challenges facing Dearborn and other cities across Michigan, Hammoud said it's time to have a public health adviser. The health official will also work on issues related to police response and mental illness, which has been an issue nationally amid discussions about policing.
Dearborn Police shot and killed two Black suspects who had mental health issues in 2015 and 2016, prompting protests from civil rights groups.
"We are actually bringing in a director of public health," Hammoud told the Free Press. "Not only will this individual be focused on issues such as COVID, but also on the ... mental health during the pandemic that's been ongoing, the issues of substance and drug use dependency, working with our public safety departments to address mental health crisis response, to talk about what protocols and guidelines we have in place for our employees to make sure that they're safe."
Hammoud, who has a master's degree in public health, said "every decision that we make really has a public health lens, whether it's environmental health, whether it's zoning, economic development, public health elements, all of it."
Dearborn has had more than 22,000 cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic, by far the highest number among cities or townships in Wayne County outside of Detroit, according to Wayne County data. Dearborn has had 298 COVID deaths.
Other appointments Hammoud made: Bilal Baydoun, director of communications, who was previously a policy and communications adviser with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel; and Tim Hawkins, director of public works and facilities, a 20-year Local 2 Bricklayers and Allied Craft Union member and journeyman bricklayer.
Hammoud has consolidated two departments — property maintenance and development services and the department of public works — into one new department that Hawkins is now leading.
Nicole Hefty is now director of philanthropy and grants, a new office under the finance and treasury department that will work to help the city attract grant money from outside sources.
Michael Kennedy, who has worked for the city of Dearborn for several years, is now director of finance and treasury. Alia Phillips, who was US Sen Bernie Sanders' field director for his 2020 campaign in Michigan, is now director of community relations.
Jeremy Romer replaces Debra Walling as the city's top legal director. He is the city's corporation counsel and chief labor negotiator, having previously served as deputy corporation counsel and chief labor negotiator.
Joseph Murray remains as fire chief and the new police chief is Issa Shahin .
Hammoud said going to work on his first day as mayor was "a surreal moment."
"You talk about running for mayor for a full year, you win the election, you talk about what you want to do when you are there ... and then you're finally seated," Hammoud said. "It's been surreal. It's been exciting."
(This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press)
