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Detroil Free Press - August 8, 2007
Muslims garner 2 of top 3 spots
on Hamtramck council ballot
Niraj Warikoo
In a display of their emerging political power, Muslims were two of the top three vote-getters in Tuesday's primary election in Hamtramck for City Council (Michigan).
Shahab Ahmed, an incumbent, received 574 votes, the most out of 12 candidates on the ballot. Delawar Mohamed Hussain came in third, with 428 votes.
The Top 6 out of the 12 will advance to the general election in November.
Another Muslim candidate, Abu Sayed Mahfuz, narrowly missed advancing. Mahfuz came in seventh place, garnering 376 votes, just nine votes behind incumbent Robert Zwolak, who got 385 votes.
"It's very noteworthy because not only does it reflect the changing demographics, but it also shows that Muslim politicians can appeal to voters outside their religious group," said Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "A Muslim can't be elected in Hamtramck just by depending on Muslims alone supporting them."
Muslims make up half of Hamtramck’s six-member City Council. In addition to Ahmed, the others are William Hood Jr. and Abdul Algazali.
Hood failed to advance, coming in 8th place. Algazali is up for re-election in 2009.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/NEWS02/70808042/0/NEWS02
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