The Local Elected Offices Directly Impacting Our Lives
Saturday, September 14 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Arab American elected officials from across the country including MI State Rep. Alabas Farhat, GA State Rep. Ruwa Romman, and CO State Rep. Iman Jodeh will join ADC’s Abed Ayoub to discuss the critical work that happens at the state and local levels of government. While Washington DC politics often dominates the newscycle, most of the work that impacts the quality of our daily lives is decided by the 99% of local and state offices, nationwide.
Alabas Farhat serves Michigan’s 3rd House District, covering Dearborn, Melvindale, and parts of Detroit. Passionate about public service, he advocates for the residents of his district and all Michiganders. Farhat values direct communication with constituents, believing it’s key to revitalizing communities and improving living standards.
Farhat holds a bachelor’s degree in public health and a master’s in public policy from the University of Michigan. His legislative priorities include public health, public safety, economic development, and infrastructure. He supports policies to enhance healthcare, reduce crime, foster economic opportunity, and improve infrastructure. As the son of immigrants, he is committed to equitable opportunities and the American Dream. Farhat collaborates across party lines to advance legislation benefiting all Michiganders, emphasizing sustainable practices and community feedback in his work.
Ruwa Romman is a Palestinian–American politician serving as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for the 97th district. A Democrat, she is the first Muslim woman elected to the body. Romman was born in Jordan and moved to the United States when she was 7. Romman attended Oglethorpe University and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She graduated from McCourt with a Master’s degree in Public Policy in 2019.
After graduation, Romman worked for Deloitte as a senior consultant. She has been involved in local politics and civic engagement groups since 2014 and co-founded the Georgia Volunteer Hub in 2020, which trained thousands of volunteers to support the Georgia Senate Runoff election.
In 2022, Romman won the general election, making her the first Muslim woman to be elected into the Georgia State House of Representatives. Romman campaigned on expanding health care access, protecting voting rights, supporting access to abortion and helping working families. Since November 2022, Romman has been part of Georgia’s first formal “Legislative Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus.”
Iman Jodeh is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 41st district. Elected in 2020, she is the first Muslim elected to the legislature and assumed office on January 13, 2021.
Jodeh was born in Denver to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the United States. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history in 2004 and Master of Public Policy from University of Colorado Denver in 2006. Jodeh has worked as a community liaison for the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. In 2008, she founded Meet the Middle East, a non-profit whose mission is to bridge understanding between Americans and what she says is the “most misunderstood region of the world.”
A member of the Democratic Party, she was elected to represent the 41st district in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 2020 general election, and is the first Muslim lawmaker in the state’s history. In the 2022 Colorado House of Representatives election, Jodeh was re-elected to represent the 41st district. On November 12, 2022, Jodeh was selected as majority co-whip of the state House. Jodeh’s political policies include working on access to healthcare (including mental health), jobs, protecting civil rights, affordable housing, and education.
Abdelnasser Rashid is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, serving the 21st District. Born and raised in Chicago, Rep. Rashid is the first Palestinian American and one of the first Muslim Americans elected to the Illinois General Assembly. His historic 2022 election victory was marked by his deep commitment to advocating for working families, immigrants, and marginalized communities.
Rep. Rashid’s holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance & Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Prior to his election, he worked as a Deputy Chief of Staff to Cook County Clerk David Orr, Chief Policy Officer for Assessor Fritz Kaegi, and key strategist for Congressman Chuy Garcia’s mayoral campaign in Chicago. He also served as Illinois Deputy Director for Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign.
In the Illinois House, Rep. Rashid has been a vocal champion for progressive policies, including healthcare access, environmental sustainability, and criminal justice reform. He co-chairs the Illinois Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force. Recently, he has taken a prominent stand in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, leading efforts to advocate for Palestinian rights and calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, the proud son of immigrant parents, has advocated for Dearborn for over a decade. As Mayor, he is committed to reinventing government to benefit working families and all residents. He has shown bold leadership with a pragmatic approach that prioritizes people. As the city’s seventh mayor, he aims to invest in infrastructure, improve public health and safety, and deliver quality services while lowering the tax burden.
During his three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives, Hammoud pushed for resources and policies to enhance Dearborn’s quality of life. He secured nearly $100 million for infrastructure projects like the Miller-Rotunda Bridge and remains focused on addressing aging infrastructure, mitigating flooding, and upgrading technology. His environmental advocacy began in 2014 with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, where he worked to protect land, air, and water.
As a State Representative, he held polluters accountable and shaped policies to improve air quality. With a background in epidemiology and finance, Hammoud advised major health care systems on maximizing revenue, creating cost-saving strategies, and identifying health care gaps. He helped manage the $45 billion UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust Fund and served as Vice Chair of Michigan’s $30 billion Health and Human Services Budget. As mayor, he plans to fund Dearborn’s pension system and maximize city revenue for tax relief.
A product of Dearborn Public Schools and a three-time graduate of the University of Michigan, Hammoud holds master’s degrees in business administration and public health, and a bachelor’s degree in science. He and his wife, Dr. Fatima Beydoun, are excited to raise their family in Dearborn and advocate for children and families across the city.
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