format_quote Originally Posted by
rubiesand
Let's have a little good news eh? (emphasis in the text is mine)
DETROIT — As the first Arab American to sit on the 3rd Circuit Court of Wayne County, Charlene Mekled Elder knows she plays an important role.
>deletions<
Also, she is the first Arab-American female judge in this circuit to speak Arabic fluently.
I was going to object that there had been lots of others but then I noticed - the first Arab-American to
sit on the 3rd Circuit Court of Wayne County, the first Arab-American female judge in this circuit
to speak Arabic fluently.
Not such a big deal after all I guess.
Elder's press release says she is also the first female Muslim to hold a judicial position in the country.
I kind of doubt that. But some Arab Americans are doing very well indeed. Here is a list of Lebanese Americans for instance, can anyone spot the name of a female Muslim on this list? I don't even see Ralph Nader.
Federal
Appointed Officials
Joseph C. Ayoub, International Trade Specialist, International Trade Administration
Sandra Edwards, Department of Commerce, Middle East Trade Task Force
Irma Elder, Federal Reserve Board, Detroit Region
Samia El Badry, Department of Commerce, Census 2000 Advisory Committee
Edward Gabriel, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco
Robert George, Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Janet Handel, Chair, Information Tech. Task Force, White House
Theodore Kattouf, U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
Juliette Kayyem, Congressional Committee on Terrorism
Mary Rose Oakar, Board member, President’s Council on Aging
Carlos Salman, Board of Directors, OPIC
Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Edna Saffy, President’s Advisory Committee, JFK Center for the Performing Arts
George Caram Steeh, U.S. District Court Judge, Eastern District of Michigan
E. Najla Tanous, Department of Commerce, Middle East Trade Task Force
Congressional/Federal Staff
John Akouri, Press Secretary and Communications Director, Representative Joe Knollenberg
Ed Ayoob, Legislative Assistant and Counselor to Senator Harry Reid
Nader Ayoub, Office of Representative Robert Brady
Peter Dagher, Scheduler, Secretary of Transportation
Kathryn Hazeem, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on the Constitution, House Committee on the Judiciary
Rich Joseph, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Labor
Chris Mansour, Administrative Assistant, Representative Dale Kildee
Daniel S. Seikaly, Associate Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice
Kelly Sharbel, Special Assistant Legislative Affaires, Department of Defense
Dalia Trainor, Scheduler, Secretary of Commerce
Joseph Zogby, Trial Attorney, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
Party Officials
Dina Habeeb Powell, Director of Congressional Affairs, Republican National Council
Edward Rahal, Political Action Committee Director, National Republican Senatorial Committee
James J. Zogby, Member, Executive Committee, Democratic National Committee
Alabama
Elected Officials
Gloria Bahakel, Circuit Judge, Jefferson County
Alfred Saliba, Mayor, Dothan
Party Leaders and Activists
Mary Jane Akel, Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee
Arizona
Elected Officials
George Zarakat, Scottsdale Councilman
California
Elected Officials
Hon. Judy Abdo, Mayor, Santa Monica
Richard G. Berry, Municipal Court Judge, Los Angeles County
James A. Kaddo, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge
Ernest George Williams, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge
Appointed Officials
Charles G. Abdelnour, San Diego City Clerk
Albert Dib, Los Angeles City Commissioner; Chairman Relocation Appeals Board
Maher Fakhouri, Small Business Commissioner
Jeannine A. Gregory, City Clerk, South Pasadena
Ross Nammar, San Jacinto City Manager
Simon Naoufal, Rialto Housing Beautification Commissioner
Ghada Saliba-Malouf, Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, San Francisco
Sal Sezma, Public Utilities Commissioner
Terry A. Thomas, Chula Vista Resource Conservation Commissioner, Chula Vista Board of Ethics
Suheil Shatara, Landmarks Preservation Board
Party Leaders and Activists
Mounzer Chaarani, Republican State Central Committee
Albert Dib, California State Advisor, National Republican Senatorial Committee
Joseph E. Louis, Republican State Central Committee
Colorado
Elected Officials
Robert Isaac, Mayor, Colorado Springs
Party Leaders and Activists
Sam H. Zakhem, Republican Nationalities Council
Connecticut
Elected Officials
David J. Cappiello, State Senator (24th District)
Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor, Bridgeport
Paul Ganim, Judge of the Court of Probate, Bridgeport
Ken Halaby, Tumbull First Selectman
William A. Hamzy, State Representative (78th District)
Michael Jarjura, State Representative (74th District)
Thomas Saadi, Danbury City Council
Dianne E. Yamin, Judge of the Court of Probate, Danbury
Appointed Officials
Thomas J. Saadi, State of Connecticut Assistant Attorney General and Danbury City Councilman
Emile Buzaid, Danbury City Council
Party Leaders and Activists
Robert J. Yamin, Republican State Central Committee
Jimmetta Samaha, Secretary, Democratic State Central Committee
District of Columbia
Appointed Officials
Claudette Shwiry, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission
Party Leaders and Activists
Jacqueline Rizik, District of Columbia Republican Central Committee
Florida
Elected Officials
George Crady, Florida State Representative (12th District)
Richard D. Eade, Judge, 17th Judicial Circuit Court
Peter Haddad, Judge
Nelly N. Khouzam, Judge, 6th Judicial Circuit
George Shahood, Judge
A. C. Soud, Circuit Court Judge
Ginger Soud, Jacksonville City Council
Party Leaders and Activists
Edna Louise Saffy, Central Committee of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee
Helen Zaborniak, Dewar City Democratic Executive Committee
Georgia
Elected Officials
Joan Haddad Saliba, Mayor, Hartwell
Appointed Officials
Hani Q. Khoury, Executive Director, Mayor’s Commission for Disability Issues
Hawaii
Party Leader and Activists
Saleem Ahmed, Democratic State Party Central Committee Member
Illinois
Elected Officials
Miriam D. Balanoff, Circuit Court Judge
George Caleel, Board of Trustees Oak Brook Village
Ray LaHood, U.S. House of Representatives (18th)
George Shadid, Illinois State Senator
Leonard Unis, Peoria City Council Member
Appointed Officials
Clem Balanoff, Cook County Deputy Director - Elections
Gabriel F. Fakhouri, Illinois State Senate Advisory Committee
Ray Hanania, Orland Park Civic Center Authority Member
James Maloof, Human Rights Commission of Illinois
Terry Meriden, Governor's Advisory Board on Diabetes
Political Professionals
Ray Hanania, Bipartisan Political Consultant
Maisoon Deeb, Republican Campaign Consultant
Indiana
Elected Officials
Larry Cary Sakel, Demotte Traffic Court Judge
Appointed Officials
George Azar, City Councilman at Large, Terre Haute
Ray Azar, Indiana Intelenet Commission, member of Vigo County Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Kaleel M. Ellis, Vigo County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Michael C. Ellis, Vigo County Chief Adult Probation Officer
Michael T. Ellis, Vigo County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Frank E. Shahadey, Vigo County Deputy Sheriff
Danny Tanoos, Superintendent of Schools, Vigo County School Corporation
Iowa
Elected Officials
Richard Berry, Superior Court Judge
Albert Habhab, Chief Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals
Party Leaders and Activists
Linda Nassif, Republican Central Committee, Delegate Advisory Board
Kentucky
Elected Officials
David Karem, State Senator (31st)
Dennis George, Lebanon City Council
Doughlas George, Lebanon Circuit Court Judge, 11th district
Sheilla Isaac, Circuit Judge, Fayette County
Appointed Officials
Teresa Isaac, Executive Director, Fair Housing Council
Party Officials
Eli Samaan, Jessemine County Democratic Party Chair
Louisiana
Elected Officials
Bobby Abrusley, Mayor, Oakdale
Elias "Bo" Ackal, State Representative
Charles Boustany, Lafayette City Coroner
Richard Ieyoub, Attorney General
Christopher C. John, U.S. Representative (42)
Suzanne Haik Terrell, Elections Commissioner
Appointed Officials
Richard Haik, Judge, U.S. District Court
Constance Koury, Louisiana Economic Development Corp.
Jay C. Zainey, Traffic Hearing Officer, Jefferson Parish
Party Leaders and Activists
Pamela Atiyeh, Louisiana Republican State Central Committee
Maine
Elected Officials
John Elias Baldacci, U.S. Representative (2)
Maryland
Appointed Officials
Laila K. Atallah, Assistant Attorney General & Principal Counsel to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Samira Hussein, Montgomery County Multicultural Community Partnership
Massachusetts
Elected Officials
Stephen Abraham, Worcester City Council
James Gabriel, Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court
Steven P. Kfoury, Lawrence City Council
Mary S. McElroy, Weymouth Planning Board
Richard S. Thomas, Chairman, Hampden County Commission
Appointed Officials
David Constantine, Governor's Councilor
Edward G. Daher, Chief Justice, Housing Court
AbdulKader C. Hamadeh, Design Review Committee, Town of Duxbury
Joseph Lian, Jr., First Justice, Probate and Family Court, Worcester Division
Kenneth P. Nasif, Justice, Juvenile Court
James G. Peters, Justice of the Peace
Charles A. Abdella, Associate Justice, District Court
Jan Lewis Najemy, Associate Justice, Juvenile Court
Party Leaders and Activists
Helen Abdallah Donohue, Norwood Democratic Town Committee
Jamie Ann Sabino, Cambridge Ward Four Democratic Committee
Robert P. Zahka, Chairman, Dedham Republican Town Committee
Michigan
Elected Officials
E. Spencer Abraham, U.S. Senator
Alan Amen, Member, Wayne State University Board
Diane Nicola Bayeh, Trustee, Mt. Morris Township
Michael Bouchard, Sheriff, Oakland County
Dennis Denno, Communications Director, Michigan Democratic Party
Joseph J. Farah, Circuit Judge, Gennessee County
Al Hadious, Wayne City Council
Linda Saoud Hallmark, Probate Judge, Oakland County
Sally Shaheen Joseph, Supervisor, Charter Township of Flint
Karen Khalil, Judge, 17th District Court
Marianne Yared McGuire, Member, Michigan State Board of Education
James J. Rashid, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
Henry William Saad, Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals
Nidar Samona, Southfield City Council Woman
Suzanne Sareini, Dearborn City Council
Richard Paul Sulaka, Warren City Clerk
Ted B. Wahby, Treasurer, Macomb County
Appointed Officials
Yahya Basha, Commissioner, Michigan Department of Civil Rights
Linda Saoud Hallmark, Governor's Task Force on Children's Justice
Azzam Elder, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor
Abed Hammoud, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor
Ali Jawad, Wayne County Executive Commission Advisory Board
Abdul M. Mackie, Michigan Board of Counseling
Theodore P. Mansour, Director, Government Relations, Genesee Intermediate School District
Claude Richard, Commission for the Blind
Noel Saleh, Michigan Advisory Committee to U.S. Civil Rights Commission
Suzanne Sareini, Commission on Women
Party Leaders and Activists
Ismael Ahmed, Democratic State Central Committee
Abed Hammoud, Treasurer, Dearborn Democratic Club
Mark Hanna, Chair, Royal Oak Area Democratic Club
Abdul M. Mackie, Chairman, Dearborn Republican Club
Theodore P. Mansour, Genessee County Democratic Party
John D. Nickola, Genessee County Democratic Executive Committee
Mohamed Okdie, Vice Chair, 15th Congressional District Democratic Party
Minnesota
Appointed Officials
Ismail A. Ismail, Henneping County Budgeting Taskforce, Eden Prairie, Board of Adjustments and Appeals
Party Leaders and Activists
Herb Mocol, Democratic State Central Committee; Chair, Blue Earth Democratic Party
Mississippi
Appointed Officials
Ollie Mohamed Sr., Executive Assistant to the Governor
Missouri
Elected Officials
Pat Danner, U.S. Representative (D-6)
Brian Wahby, Assistant City Treasurer, St. Louis
Party Leaders and Activists
Brian Wahby, Democratic Committeeman 7th Ward
Nebraska
Elected Officials
Robert A. Nader, Judge, 11th District Court of Appeals, Warren
Party Leaders and Activists
Victor Ajlouny, Douglas County Republican Party Central Committee, Assistant Chair
New Hampshire
Elected Officials
Benjamin C. Baroody, State Representative
Jeanne Shaheen, Governor
John E. Sununu, U.S. Representative (1st)
New Jersey
Elected Officials
Khalil Kasht, Prospect Park City Council
Joe Kyrillos, State Senator, (13th District)
Harold Nafash, Bergenfield City Council
Joe Palaia, State Senator, (11th District)
William M. Saydah, River Vale City Council
Appointed Officials
Morad Abou-Sabe, Senior Advisor for Middle East Affairs to New Jersey’s Secretary of Commerce and Chair of West Windsor
Affordable Housing Commission
Nizar Kahf, Commissioner, State Division on Civil Rights
Sherine El -Abd, Council on Local Mandates
Political Leaders and Activists
Sherine El -Abd, state Republican Arab American Advisory Council; president, Women’s Republican Club of Middlesex County;
Board of Governors, state Federation of Republican Women.
Souzan Soliman, Treasurer, Women’s Republican Club of Middlesex County.
New York
Elected Officials
John J. Ash, Jr., Mayor, Olean
Kevin M. Dowd, Judge, Chenango County
Edward J. Hanna, Mayor, Utica
Thomas Libous, State Senator, 51st District
Frederick J. Marshall, Erie County Legislator-Minority Leader
John L. Murad, Judge, New York State Supreme Court
Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Westchester County District Attorney
Anthony F. Shaheen, Justice, New York State Supreme Court
Appointed Officials
Nader Sayegh, Board Chairman, Yonkers Parking Authority
Didi M. Skaff, Administrative Law Judge, Dept. of Transportation
Joseph H. Hobika, Sr., Chairman, Utica Industrial Development Agency
Party Leaders and Activists
Hani AbiHabeeb, Brooklyn Republican Party
Joan Dacken, Edmund Seergy Republican Club of Brooklyn
Joseph Elhilow, Brooklyn-Verrazano Republican Club
Jennifer Faucher, New York State Public Employees Federation AFL-CIO, Region 10 PAC Chair
Jerry Kassar, Chair Brooklyn Conservative Party
Majed Samarneh, Yonkers Democratic Party Precinct Chair
Nader Sayegh, Chair of the Independent Party
Political Professionals
John J. Zogby, Pollster, Zogby International
North Carolina
Party Leaders and Activists
George Maron El -Khouri, State Democratic Party Executive Committee
Ohio
Elected Officials
Tim Ali, City Council, Middleburg Heights
Charles D. Abood, Judge, Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals
William J. Bishilany, City Council, Seven Hills
Timothy Bryan, Massillon City Council
Kristine George, Fairview Park City Council
Robert A. Nader, Judge, 11th District, Court of Appeals
Joseph Nahra, Eighth Appellate District Court of Appeals
H. Elizabeth Omar, City Council, East Cleveland
E. J. Thomas, Jr., State Representative (27th District)
Edward J. Elum, Judge, Massillon Municipal Court
Appointed Officials
Slayman N. Bedra, Ohio Parole Board Member
Bruce Coury, Assistant Law Director, City of Parusa
John S. Coury, Assistant Canton City Law Director, Chief Civil Division
Robert Coury, Chief Prosecutor, Cuyahoga County
George Sadd, Prosecutor, Cuyahoga County
Joseph T. Sadie, Commander, Cleveland Police Department
Edmond Sargas, Federal District Court Judge, Southern District of Ohio
Samuel J. Sliman, Director, Canton Ohio Civil Service Commission
Political Professionals
Jeffrey Kassouf, Media Consultant, Take 1 Studios
Mary Rose Oakar, Mary Rose Oakar and Associates
Oklahoma
Appointed Officials
Hassen A. Cara, Chamber of Commerce International Committee
Oregon
Appointed Officals
Richard L. Unis, Special Master Louis iana-Pacific Inner-Seal
National Class Action (Federal Court)
Pennsylvania
Elected Officials
Robert M. Aber, Director, Steel Valley School Board
James Albert, District Justice, Westmoreland County
Henry Bitar, President, New Kensington School Board
Betty Esper, Mayor, Homestead
Camille "Bud" George, State Representative (74th district)
Joseph M. James, Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Tom Makowski, Luzerne County Commissioner
Gerald Solomon, Judge
Jeffrey W. Thomas, City Council, New Kensington
Appointed Officials
Joe Elias, Pennsylvania Ethnic Heritage Commission
Joseph M. James, Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Marwan Kreidie, Member, Civil Service Commis sion
Charles Zogby, Director, Governor’s Policy Office
Rhode Island
Elected Officials
Scott D. Barr, Member, Lincoln School Committee
John Douglas Barr II, State Representative (59th district)
Daniel Issa, State Senator (35th district)
Thomas Lazieh, Central Falls City Council
Appointed Officials
James N. Allam, Chairman, Board of Canvassers and Elections, Woonsocket
Milan T. Azar, Legal Counsel, State House Labor Committee
Christine Jabour, Assistant Attorney General
George Lazieh, Special Assistant Attorney General
Thomas Lazieh, Chairman, Rhode Island Underground Storage Tank Finanicial Responsibility Fund Review Board
James L. Salome, Executive Director, Rhode Island Health and Education Building Authority, Providence
Raymond A. Thomas, Probate Judge, Town of Bristol
George Zainyeh, Office of the Secretary of State
Party Leaders
Thomas Lazieh, Chair, Central Falls Democratic Committee
South Carolina
Elected Officials
Edward Saleeby, Sr., State Senator
Tennessee
Elected Officials
James Naifeh, Speaker, State House of Representatives
Appointed Officials
Janice M. Holder, State Supreme Court Justice
Party Leaders and Activists
Juliet Harb Howell, Davidson County Republican Executive Committee
Texas
Elected Officials
Jack Abercia, Constable, Harris County
Marilyn Aboussie, Chief Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals, Austin
Dr. Hamid Kantara, League City, Council member, Precinct Chairman, and President, Galveston County Young Republicans
Phillip Kazen, Judge, 227th District Court, Bexar County
Alvin G. Khoury, Judge, 124th District Court
Appointed Officials
Suzanne Azar, Airport Board
George P. Kazen, Chief Judge, Federal District/Southern District
Helen Huey, Texas Public Finance Authority
Party Leaders and Activists
Kamal Ahmad, Democratic precinct chair
Katie Bayoud, Democratic precinct chair
Vermont
Elected Officials
William N. Aswad, State Representative
Virginia
Elected Officials
A. Victor Thomas, State Delegate
Appointed Officials
Sharifa Al Khateeb, Fairfax County School Board Curriculum Advisory Mem
Samer W. Burgan, Baily’s Corssroads Revitalization Corporation Board
Frederick T. Hadeed, State Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Najeeb Halaby, Board of Trustees, College of William & Mary
Azizah Y. al-Hibri, Virginia Advisory Member to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Rich Joseph, Fairfax County Civil Service Commission
Nidal Mahayni, Virginia State Delegate Selection Committee
Asaad Masri, Medical Foundation, University of Virginia
Houeida Saad,Virginia Advisory Member to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Helen Hatab Samhan, Fairfax County Human Rights Commission
Eva Sayegh Teig, Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors
Ronald Tweel, Substitute Judge
Party Leaders and Activists
Samer Alhashimi, Northern Virginia Business Republican Forum
Marwan Burgan, Fairfax County Democratic Committee
George Doumar, Treasurer, Fairfax County Republican Committee
Nancy Kader, Fairfax County Democratic Committee
Omar Kader, Fairfax County Democratic Committee
Terry Abdoo King, Arlington Civic Association Delegate
Mary Sahouri, president of the Great Falls Republican Women’s Club
Saba L. Shami, Fairfax County Democratic Committee
West Virginia
Elected Officials
Nick J. Rahall II, U.S. Representative (3rd)
Paul Zakaib, Jr., Circuit Court Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit
Appointed Officials
Philip Haddad, Charleston Urban Renewal Authority
Wisconsin
Elected Officials
Robert Ashmore, Alderman, Mequon
Credits go to United States Committee For A Free Lebanon.