Federal Office

Rep. Nick Joe Rahall II. A West Virginia Democrat, Rahall has been a tireless champion of Arab American issues since arriving in D.C. in '76. He has long been a leader in the causes of Palestinian rights and efforts to lift or modify the US travel ban on Lebanon. On domestic issues, Rahall has been a watchdog for the civil liberties of Arab Americans and others, bringing public attention to threats on those rights in cases from the Gulf War behavior of the FBI to current anti-terrorism legislation. The dean of the Arab American caucus in Congress, he serves as the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and the Railroad Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Rep. Pat Danner of Missouri, second-term Democratic member of Congress, vaulted to the U.S. House in '92 by defeating an eight-term incumbent. She was reelected in '94 receiving 66% of the vote. Danner serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Aviation and Surface Transportation Subcommittees) and the Committee on International Relations (International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee). After a decade of being a fiscal watchdog in the Missouri State Senate, Danner has used her experience to focus attention and devise strategies for cutting the budget deficit and waste in federal government. She was recognized by Citizens Against Government Waste in '94 for her efforts.

Rep. John E. Baldacci of Maine was elected by his peers as vice president of the '94 freshman Democratic class and as a regional whip for the Northeast by the party leadership. His work experience in small business, service on the Bangor City Council and decade in the Maine State Senate have prepared him for dealing with small business affairs and the relationship between the federal, state and local levels of government. Baldacci was appointed to the House Agricultural Committee and the House Small Business Committee. Of Lebanese and Italian ancestry, Baldacci is the cousin of retired US Senator George Mitchell. His family runs the well-known Bangor eatery, Momma Baldacci's.

Rep. Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois' 18th District is the grandson of an immigrant from Lebanon and the son of a restaurant manager. He rose through the ranks of state politics before serving for four years as Chief of Staff to former House Minority Leader Robert Michel. LaHood ran for Michel's seat and is just completing his freshman term. He serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has provided leadership on US-Lebanon issues before the Congress while participating actively in the Arab American caucus.

Clem Balanoff is the Democratic challenger to freshman incumbent Jerry Weller in Illinois' 11th US Congressional district. Running from LaSalle County all the way down to Joliet, this district has been held by a Democrat for six of the last eight years. Balanoff based his strategy on a strong national Democratic showing, tying his opponent to House Speaker Newt Gingrich and using his opponent's unpopular vote to repeal the assault weapons ban.

Dem. Richard Ieyoub, Louisiana's Attorney General, was a favorite to make the Nov. runoff election to succeed retiring Sen. J. Bennett Johnston. A winner in two state-wide elections, garnering 77% of the vote in '95, Ieyoub was the first person in Louisiana history to gather over one million votes. A moderate Democrat, he has received numerous and diverse endorsements statewide including outgoing Congressman Cleo Fields. Proud of his Arabic heritage, Ieyoub often told listeners on his campaign trail how his parents immigrated from Lebanon at the turn of the century. He traveled extensively to meet Arab American supporters around the nation in his bid for the US Senate.

Louisiana Dem. Chris John was the leading candidate in the open 7th Congressional district. First elected to office at age 24, John defeated the incumbent three years later to gain the seat his late father held in the state's House of Representatives. Polling numbers over the past few months showed him with a 16 point lead in his race for an open seat. John and his brothers are owners-operators of John N. John Truckline, Inc., a family-run business since 1925.

The son of the former New Hampshire governor, Republican John E. Sununu has benefited from widespread name recognition in his state. Sununu made his first bid for public office in this Nov. election, running for the open first US Congressional district of New Hampshire. He campaigned on a strongly conservative small government platform, and beat his closest Republican opponent by 600 votes in the Sept. 10th primary.

Judge

Judge George T. Ellis, the son of Lebanese immigrants, sought election to the 1st Court of Appeals in Texas, bringing with him 35 years of legal experience, including 12 as a Justice. The Lonestar State's most prodigious opinion writer from '89-'94 while sitting as Justice of the 14th Court of Appeals, Ellis has authored 1,700 opinions and participated in 2,600 others.

Joseph J. Farah ran for Judge in Genesse County, Michigan, where his family has lived for the last 75 years. Farah graduated from law school in '79, starting his own practice the next year. There were four candidates in the Aug. 6th primary and Farah came in a close second winning him a place on the Nov. ballot. His campaign had a large Arab American volunteer base.

The Hon. Henry William Saad ran for a seat on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Appointed to the court in '94 by Michigan's governor, Saad is a distinguished jurist in AIDS and first amendment law. His career has included service as a practicing attorney, teacher and legal writer. Saad is a member of the Governor's Task Force on Children's Justice, which deals with the problems of child abuse and neglect. A strong supporter of Arab American empowerment efforts, he serves on the Executive Committee of AAI's National Policy Council.

Tracey Yokich is leaving the Michigan State Legislature after six distinguished years that led her to be the Democratic Caucus Chair. In this election, she ran for Circuit Court Judge in St. Clair, MI. Yokich, whose grandmother was from Lebanon, won her August primary by 1,600 votes. And it was on this outcome coupled with her experience as a legislator and her former position as Macomb County Asst. Prosecuting Attorney that she pinned her hopes for victory.

In addition, Judge Kevin M. Dowd sought election in New York.

State Office

The Chair of the Manchester City Democratic Party, Benjamin Baroody sought his third term as New Hampshire State Rep. in the 42nd District.

Republican David Capiello has been in the Connecticut State House of Representatives since he first won office in '94, A member of the Judiciary and Human Services Committees, Capiello represents the 138th District of Danbury.

Dem. George Crady sought reelection to his seat in the Florida State House of Representatives, where he has served since '77. His committee assignments have spanned the full range of state government. Crady's long record of private community service in addition to his public role have placed him high in popular regard.

Thomas G. Ganim won the Democratic party caucuses by acclamation in July and began the job of trying to unseat the Republican State Senator who has represented his Connecticut district for the past seven years. This was Ganim's first bid for office, public service, though, runs in the family ­ his brother Joe is mayor of Bridgeport.

Democrat Camille "Bud" George has been elected to the Pennsylvania State Legislature 10 consecutive times by Clearfield and Centre Counties. He has chaired the House Conservation Committee for the last 13 years. This year, George was the nominee for both the Republican and Democratic parties. He managed 3,000 write-in votes, more than any Republican in the race.

Richard "Beef" Haddad, a moderate Democrat from Valparaiso, FL, ran for the first time for the Florida State Senate in District 7. Campaigning on education and crime issues, he also used his military service as an AC-130 gunship commander to combat the Republican majority in the district.

Rep. William Hamzy was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in '94. When he first ran he was determined to help handle the stagnant economy. During his tenure, he voted to cut the state income tax for working families and lowered taxes on small businesses with the result that unemployment is down to 5% in his state.

Popular five-term State Senator Daniel Issa, a Rhode Island Democrat, sought reelection to his Central Falls district. Issa has a strong record of accomplishment in the state's upper chamber, including facilitating the state takeover of the local school district and eliminating the 24-hour waiting period before police can begin looking for missing children.

State Rep. Michael Jarjura of Waterbury, CT, was elected in '92 to

represent Waterbury's 74th District in the state's House of

Representatives after leaving his position as Asst. State Atty. General. He serves on three legislative committees: Judiciary, Program Review and Investigation (ranking member), and Government Administration and Elections.

State Senator Thomas W. Libous, Republican conservative from Binghamton, NY, served four terms in the NY State Senate representing the 51st District.

Back in '85, Marianne Yared McGuire cofounded the Arab American Voter Registration and Education Committee which has been responsible for signing up over 5,000 new voters in Dearborn, Michigan. Little did she know that 11 years later she would be asking those people for their vote in her race for the State Board of Education. McGuire has been a teacher and dedicated activist for the Arab American community in her state. She serves on the Board of Directors at the Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS).

James O. "Jimmy" Naifeh, an erstwhile Tennessee legislator, has served as a member of his state's General Assembly for 22 years. Naifeh, who resides in Covington, was elected Speaker of the House for the last three assemblies and was Majority Leader for the last three sessions before he became Speaker. He has shown no sign of slowing down and received the "Legislator of the Year" award this year from the Tennessee Development District Association. Naifeh also sits on the Board of Governors and Directors of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Eileen Qutub walked the precincts to try to make the jump from the Oregon State House of Representatives to the State Senate in this past campaign. Her term in the Legislature was focused on taxes, crime and education and was so successful that she was awarded the Republican leadership position of Asst. House Majority Leader. Oregon magazine called Qutub one of four "freshman legislators bringing new ideas, energy and optimism to Salem."

Edward Saleeby, a lifelong Democrat, was elected to represent Darlington-Marlboro County in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1951. He first won election to the State Senate in '73. Saleeby, who has worked 30 years on insurance reform, currently chairs the Banking and Insurance Committee. He is the third ranking South Carolina Senator.

For the first time in a generation, New Hampshire had a strong Democratic candidate in the race for Governor. Jeanne Shaheen, a politically moderate state senator, battled to become this state's first woman governor. Shaheen won the Democratic primary Sept. 10th and led the polls for the general election. Her race was watched nationally and she received commitments of support for her campaign from three potential Democratic presidential candidates for the year 2000: Vice President Al Gore, Sen. Bob Kerrey and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

In addition, William Aswad sought reelection as State Representative in Vermont.

Local Office

Mark David has worked in the family business in the Buckeye State his whole life. His family started with one restaurant; they now have 13. David looked to his experience in the private sector for an edge to win his bid for Hamilton County Clerk in Ohio.

Kevin Haddad ran for County Commissioner on the promise to rebuild Lucas County, Ohio. A native of the state, Haddad has been a successful business owner in the Toledo area for the last 17 years.

Democrat Sally Shaheen Joseph sought reelection as the first woman Supervisor of Flint (MI) Township. Joseph scored a big win in a hotly contested August primary, receiving 52% of the vote in a four person race. She enjoys solid community support and remains active both locally and nationally in Arab American empowerment efforts. Joseph has served on AAI's Executive Committee since '93.

Richard Thomas has been a public servant for the people of Hammond County, Mass. since '72. The biggest issue in the race for Hammond County Commission was whether or not the county government should be entirely eliminated, something Thomas hopes to oppose if reelected.

George Zainyeh is the Democratic candidate for mayor of Warwick, RI. Rep. Zainyeh was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives (District 35) in 1990. As a member of the legislature, he currently serves as Deputy Majority Leader, Vice Chairman of the Health Education and Welfare Committee, Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Small Business and Vice Chairman of the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency.

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