For Immediate Release: 
Washington- Arab Americans won reelection in mayoral, State Senate, and City Council races this Tuesday.  Arab Americans were also newly elected to City Council, Treasurer, and Zoning Commission.

Abdul Haidous, who was the first Arab American Muslim mayor in the nation, was reelected mayor of Wayne, Michigan with an impressive 79% of the vote as was Michael Jarjura in Waterbury, Connecticut with 59%.  Joe Kyrillos was elected to another term in the New Jersey State Senate with 54% of the vote.  Returning city council members include Sandy Annabi, who was elected to a second term unopposed in Yonkers, New York, Riad Mahayni who was elected to another term with 59% of the vote in Ames, Iowa, and Thomas Saadi, who was elected to a third term with 63.5% of the vote in Danbury, Connecticut.

Michigan Arab American John Akouri ran a successful first time campaign for City Council in Farmington Hills.  Akouri, who served as spokesman for Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), beat three opponents to win a seat on the council. 

Connecticut remains a state with many successful Arab American candidates.  Theresa Buzaid, who won a seat on Danbury's Zoning Commission and Daniel Jowdy, who will be Danbury's next Treasurer, join the six Arab Americans who ran successful campaigns in the 2002 elections. 

Several first time Arab American candidates ran excellent campaigns that, although they did not win their elections, made an important impact on the debate during the election process.  Afeefa Syeed ran for Loudon County Supervisor in Virginia and made an impression on voters with her platform of citizen empowerment.  Another notable campaign was Jo Anne Hajjar Byrnes who ran for Freeholder in Morris County, New Jersey.  Mostafa Alsharif won an initial election for City Council in Knoxville, Tennessee and was part of a two-candidate run off for the position.

Arab American Leadership Councils in Iowa, New Hampshire, California, New Jersey, and Virginia hosted candidates' nights and Get Out the Vote efforts to encourage Arab Americans to volunteer for campaigns and increase the turn out of Arab Americans on Election Day.  According to a 2000 Zogby International poll, 88.5% of Arab Americans are registered to vote.

"Arab Americans have proven that they are an American political constituency who are organized and whose votes can make a difference.  Not only have we made an impact on the outcome of elections, but more Arab Americans are successfully running for office and our community is making significant contributions in framing the national debate," said AAI President Dr. James Zogby.

Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent.  AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities.

Rebecca Abou-Chedid
Public Affairs Coordinator
Arab American Institute
(202) 429-9210 x27
www.aaiusa.org