Former City Council Chair Pro-Term Bill Bazzi takes the oath of office to serve as the new Dearborn Heights mayor Jan. 26.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — The city has a new mayor and two city council members following appointments during a Jan. 26 council meeting.
Councilman Bill Bazzi was selected to complete the term of the late Mayor Daniel Paletko while Mo Baydoun and Zouher Abdel-Hak were selected to fill vacancies on the city council.
Council Chairwoman Denise Malinowski-Maxwell, Bazzi, mayor Chief of Staff Krystina Laslo, and resident Anthony Camilleri each interviewed for the mayor vacancy Jan. 25 after submitting their applications. Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek asked to be removed from consideration as a mayoral candidate following the recent death of his grandfather.
The council had a discussion before voting on mayor at its regular meeting when Baydoun made the motion to add Councilman Ray Muscat for consideration as mayor, which was accepted.
During the vote, Bazzi received four votes from himself, Muscat, Dave Abdallah, and Tom Wencel while Muscat received three votes from Baydoun, Robert Constan and Malinowski-Maxwell.
City Clerk Lynne Senia swore in Bazzi to serve as mayor until the November general election.
“It has been a pleasure and honor serving with all of the council members for the last three years,” Bazzi said. “I really appreciate your vote and confidence. I am honored to be appointed to serve as mayor of the great city of Dearborn Heights until the 2021 election when the residents will vote in November. It has been a pleasure to serve as council and I’m excited to serve our residents as mayor.”
Paletko died Dec. 29 due to complications from COVID-19 leaving the vacant seat until a November 2021 election is held.
Mo Baydoun is sworn in as a Dearborn Heights city councilman during a virtual council meeting Jan. 26.
Additionally, the city will hold a special election in November to elect a candidate to serve as mayor through Dec. 31, in addition to the regular mayoral election. Paletko’s term expires at the end of 2021.
Malinowski-Maxwell returned to her position as council chair after serving as interim mayor, and Abdallah was chosen for the council chair pro-tem position following Bazzi’s appointment.
“Thank you for the honor of serving as pro-tem,” Abdallah said. “I hope all of us will commit — myself included, to make this city better and work for the betterment of the city and for all of our residents.”
Prior to the mayoral vote, the council broke its deadlock in multiple attempts since December to fill the vacancy created when former Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton won the election for city treasurer. Baydoun received 5 votes — from Abdallah, Constan, Malinowski-Maxwell, Muscat and Wencel — while Abdel-Hak received one, from Bazzi. William Zurenko, the third candidate under consideration, received none.
Zouher Abdel-Hak is sworn in as Dearborn Heights city councilman during a virtual council meeting Jan. 26.
The council then voted to fill the vacancy created by Bazzi’s appointment to mayor. Abdel-Hak received votes from Abdallah, Baydoun, Malinowski-Maxwell, Muscat and Wencel, while Ned Apigian received one, from Constan. Zurenko again received none.
The city council agreed to accept Apigian’s application since he met the qualification of being a Dearborn Heights resident.
“I am going to do whatever is best for the residents,” Baydoun said. “I know we’re going to do great things in the city and I hope we can move the city forward.”
“It’s a very exciting night,” Abdel-Hak said. “I really don’t know what to say except, this city is coming together tonight and I hope we will do what is necessary to bring this city to the future, which is what it deserves.
“Thank you to all of you. I am very humble and I promise to do my best to make sure all the employees get what they deserve and they stay on their jobs and I will do everything to help this city and help the city council.”
To watch the council meetings and study sessions go to the City of Dearborn Heights YouTube page.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])