Candidate Profile: Bill Bazzi, Dearborn Hts. Mayor

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI — Voters in Dearborn Heights will vote for its mayor in November's general elections.

To help readers make informed choices, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Bill Bazzi is running against Denise Malinowski Maxwell for mayor of Dearborn Heights. Here's how he filled out his profile:

Live in Dearborn or Dearborn Heights? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Age (as of Election Day)

57

Position Sought

Dearborn Heights Mayor

Party Affiliation

Non Partisan

Family

Two Boys

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Master of Aeronautical Science (Engineering)
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics (Engineering) Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Occupation

Civilian Career
In working for two world renowned corporations, Boeing, as a Quality Manager and Lead Auditor and at Ford Motor Company as a Product Development Engineer, Bazzi has audited various tiers of multi-million dollar and billion-dollar corporations, from their manufacturing to their finance departments. In addition, he has been responsible for analyzing companies’ organization and operations; government compliance; policies and protocol; and products, while initiating effective measures to enhance public safety and economic productivity.

Military Career
During his 21 years of service in the United States Marine Corps, Bazzi served in multiple leadership capacities including Military Police, Intelligence Chief, and Operations/Intelligence Senior Enlisted Leader. He was responsible for successfully overseeing the operations and members of a joint unit responsible for high level intelligence production; leading high profile complex initiatives comprised of joint task forces across agency lines; managing hundreds of service members; working with ambassadors at U.S. Embassies; and engaging various’ countries diplomats and leaders to forge positive productive relationships. The success of these initiatives resulted in rebuilding municipality infrastructures, providing humanitarian aid, training foreign militaries, countering terrorist activity, and promoting democratic governance across the globe, while defending the constitution of the United States.

Public Official or Public Service
Prior to being appointed by the City Council to serve as Dearborn Heights Mayor on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Mayor Bill Bazzi had served as the Council Chair Pro Tem since 2018.
As an elected official, Bazzi was hand selected to serve as part of an inaugural U.S. cohort, supported by the State Department, to engage newly elected officials in Tunisia and Morocco. The purpose of this ongoing program is to promote democracy, transparency, community-based economic development, and empowerment. The success of the first cohort resulted in funding for upcoming policy projects to support public service and democratic governance.

Military Awards & Decorations
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Awards
National Military Intelligence Association Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award for Leadership, nomination

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Appointed Mayor in January 2021, City Council Pro Tem from January 2018 till January 2021.

Campaign website

www.mayorbillbazzi.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for Mayor to maintain my commitment and continue working for our residents. As a former City Councilman since 2017 and current Mayor since January 26, 2021, I have hit the ground running to strategize and develop a stronger, cleaner, safer, and more vibrant city. Although the foundation has been set in place in the short time that I have served as Mayor, there is more work to be done. I remain committed to repairing our infrastructure; resolving our longstanding flooding issue; ridding our neighborhoods of blight; enhancing city services and equal access to resources; providing the police and fire departments with the resources needed to keep our community safe; respecting and listening to residents; and ensuring transparency in city government.

This year we were faced with unprecedented times, including consecutive heavy storms and rainfall, a global pandemic, and severe shortages with our trash services. I have been working diligently with my administrative team and forged constructive relationships with local, state, and federal stakeholders on working towards solutions.

Although, I would be honored to be elected and continue my service as Mayor, it is not about me---this is and always has been about the people. I would welcome the opportunity to continue working with our excellent administration and new team members, city council, and residents, to bring this vision to complete fruition. These priorities include:

SAFETY AND SERVICES
I have identified funds to retool our Dispatch Center and firmly advocated for our Center to remain in Dearborn Heights. I remain committed to improving city services, increasing patrol to deter speeders, and enhancing resources for our Police and Fire Departments to help keep our neighborhoods safe.

COMMUNITY
I have been working with my team on the enforcement of ordinance codes to eradicate the longstanding blight issue; revamping our parks; cleaning the Ecorse Creek and engaging residents through my recently established Ecorse Creek Commission; in addition to increasing senior citizen programs through our Parks and Recreation Department and civic service opportunities for our youth through community service initiatives.

TRANSPARENCY
I remain committed to enhancing transparency and accountability in city operations, documentation, and record sharing. I have an open-door policy for city employees, councilmembers, and residents alike. I also provide a weekly city update video and am working with my team to enhance technology and communication to keep residents informed and engaged.

PROSPERITY
I have been taking strategic measures to attract and assist businesses throughout the city, by streamlining the process for investment and development while eliminating unnecessary obstacles. I have established the first Dearborn Heights Business Commission and the “Mayor Bazzi’s Business Tour” to feature and promote local businesses and help increate patronage.
<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

There are multiple issues facing our facing which I will address below. As we have dealt with unprecedented consecutive storms and flooding this year, the flooding and deteriorating infrastructure has been at the forefront.
Alleviating the flooding which has plagued our city of decades is a top priority. I have been working closely with Wayne County and holding strategic discussions with local, state, and federal stakeholders regarding the Ecorse Creek. Part of the flood mitigation plan includes the preliminary step of removing log jams and assessing sedimentation issues throughout the Creek, to help improve flow and alleviate back-up and street flooding. This “Phase 1” unprecedented flood mitigation collaboration took place this past Saturday, October 23, 2021. This was a critical step in implementing the long-term solution to the Ecorse creek flood problem. A more extensive “Phase 2” of the Ecorse Creek clear-out will take place this upcoming Spring. In addition, we are working on grants to help purchase homes around the Ecorse Creek to replace with detention basins and rain gardens, to further alleviate flooding. I am also working with our congressional representatives to seek federal funding.
I am also committed to preserving Warren Valley as a Golf Course and creating retention and detention areas to address Rouge River flooding which affects our area. In addition, I have tasked our City Engineer with the assessment and evaluation of our City’s Storm water conveyance system, as we collaborate with our stakeholders to restore our infrastructure and secure the necessary funding. We are currently in the funding and scoping phase of conducting the city wide evaluation and computer modeling of our aging infrastructure (both storm and sanitary) to evaluate capacity and identify areas requiring improvement---taking into account our growth, the impact of our regional deteriorating infrastructure, in addition to the impact of climate change.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

It was brought to my attention that my opponent is making false and inaccurate statements and I will address these false and misleading narratives with facts, for transparency and the interest of the residents.
I have been a public servant since age 18 and have served my community and my country with honor, integrity, and action. I have served in the military, in corporate America, and as a member of multiple civic organizations. In my capacity, I not only held a title or signed up as member or sat on boards, I have been on the ground strategizing, organizing, and have evidence of my deliverables which have impact in the lives of seniors, youth, veterans, our community and country. Furthermore, my campaign has been about the people and the various ways I have and will continue to serve with boots on the ground, as opposed to desperate attempts to make false accusations to undermine the character of my opponents.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

There were items by the previous administration that required immediate attention. I will not discuss someone’s failure but rather discuss the work that I have and will continue to do as I work to instill positive effective changes for our residents. My opponent mentions that I was appointed by only four councilmembers and that I voted for myself. I am grateful that the council had faith in me as I also have faith in my abilities and passion to get the job done. My opponent was not only on council, she was also serving as Interim Mayor yet the council chose to vote for me, and chose not to even vote for herself during the Mayoral selection process.
With regard to the water bill, that matter has already been addressed. In consultation with our city attorney, and upon a thorough internal review, it was determined that the amount of a water bill from 2020 for a small business was issued in error—which we were obligated correct. This was the right thing to do. When an amount can not be substantiated, we can not overcharge our residents or small business owners. This is not only wrong, it opens the city up to potential legal ramifications.
With regard to the roof contract, this issue was already addressed multiple times and extensively at the last council meeting. The original roof contract was not a good contact. It should never have been approved by the council, would cost over 280K, and was written for condominiums (which had nothing to do with our city hall roof). Furthermore, it failed to list the of materials to be used, in addition to other ambiguities. We ultimately sought other bids and the council voted 6 to 1 to proceed with another bidder that came in at less than one third of the cost to repair the roof.
With regard to individuals I have hired, I brought on a grant writer who is responsible for securing millions of dollars in FEMA grants to benefit our residents. I also hired a city engineer with over 30 years of experience who has been analyzing and strategizing plans for a plethora of infrastructure, flooding, and building issues which have cost the city and the residents tens of millions of dollars over the past decades. He has already saved the city hundreds of thousands since his onboarding.
With regard to ordinance, our department has been addressing issues that have been lingering for quite some time—some up to a decade. We are currently increasing ordinance staff and will be launching a “Fight on Blight” campaign to raise awareness of ordinance codes among residents, landlords, and business owners, and enforcing and updating our existing codes, as we work to rid our city of blight.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

As this was an unprecedented global pandemic, information and resources were initially scarce. I was at the forefront of partnering with the county and neighborhood communities to open a Vaccination Center inside the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, for those who chose to receive the vaccine. During that time, I provided residents with all the information and constant updates using televised video and social media platforms. In addition, I dedicated a Dearborn Heights city hotline to benefit senior citizens or others without access to computers to call and register. Furthermore, I worked with a local organization to bring a mobile vaccination center to the Berwyn Senior Center to accommodate our senior citizens and other members of our community. I worked with local students to launch “Schools & Seniors” mask drive where we collected donated masks and distributed them to schools and
Like other cities around the country, the pandemic has impacted our city’s economy, and more focus has been turned to our deteriorating infrastructure and decaying public parks. My recovery plan includes the responsible retention and allocation of both grant and federal funding in appropriate areas which impact Dearborn Heights and benefit our residents, with an emphasis on our city’s infrastructure and economy. These areas include the enhancement of city services, restoration of roads and parks, renovation of our crumbling infrastructure and our new flood mitigation projects. My recovery plan includes attracting new and strengthening existing local businesses, streamlining the process for investment and development, while eliminating unnecessary obstacles. This includes the engagement of residents through the establishment of the new Dearborn Heights Business Commission and Dearborn Heights Ecorse Creek Commission.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Flooding (discussed in more detail above)
I am currently working with the City Engineer on a comprehensive flood mitigation plan involving the creation of a detention basin on parts of the Warren Valley golf course property. My administration and I have been working closely with Wayne County and holding strategic discussions with local, state, and federal stakeholders regarding the Ecorse Creek. Part of the flood mitigation plan includes the preliminary step of removing log jams and assessing sedimentation issues throughout the Creek, to help improve flow and alleviate back-up and street flooding. We are also working on grants to help purchase more homes around the Ecorse Creek to help facilitate this process.
Infrastructure
I have tasked the City Engineer with the assessment and evaluation of the City’s Storm water conveyance system and to identify areas requiring improvement. Our aging infrastructure throughout the City is currently experiencing capacity as well as age related issues. Demand generated by development in the past 50 years in addition to climate change causing unprecedented rainfall frequencies, duration and volume will require a new regional approach to help mitigate the impact to communities. The City is currently collaborating with our neighboring communities, the State of Michigan as well as the Federal government to identify common solution and develop a unified approach with government funding assistance.
Waste Removal
To address the issue with lingering trash, I have prepared and submitted a comprehensive RFP to go out for bid for a new waste removal company. The bidding will close in October 2021. At that point, an assessment of each bid will be made for both cost and efficiency. My objective is to ensure that our city contracts with a company that can provide thorough removal, in addition to the expected timely pick-up according to schedule. I am working diligently to provide the quality trash removal other services that our residents deserve!

Blight
I am working with our ordinance department to launch a new “Fight the Blight” program. This program is designed to tackle the longstanding issues associated with abandoned and unkept homes, buildings, and properties; rodents; overgrown grass and weeds; fallen trees; illegal dumping in sewers and water ways; liter and trash in right of ways; and other items that violate city ordinances. Further information will be provided regarding the Dearborn Heights “Fight the Blight” launch next month.

Public Safety
I have authorized the Police Department to increase patrol of our streets to help deter speeders and reckless driving in our neighborhoods. We will continue to monitor this serious issue and take corrective action to ensure our residents follow the speed limit and abide by the law. I remain committed to providing our Police and Firefighters with the tools and resources needed to enhance the safety of our neighborhoods and residents.
City Services
I have been working with our DPW Director to assess our equipment and services. We are working on retaining new equipment which have enhanced features to better clear our streets and serve our residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In addition to my experience in corporate America, military/government, and in civic organizations, I have served on city council for nearly four year, and this year as Mayor.
Since being appointed to Mayor, we now have a city grant writer to help with additional financial resources; hired the first city engineer who has made assessments and effective changes which saved out city hundreds of thousands of dollars; have the newly formed Ecorse Creek Commission and Business Commission; are updating our DPW equipment and will be hiring additional ordinance officers as we launch the “Fight the Blight” campaign to keep our streets and neighborhoods clean. I have also advocated to keep our dispatch center in Dearborn Heights and identified funds to retool our Dearborn Heights dispatch center in our city. I have further authorized increased patrol to help address speeding. This past summer, I have worked with our Parks and Recreation team to bring numerous community events to benefit our residents, and enhanced programs for our senior citizens. In addition, I have made it a priority to spearhead community service initiatives which engage youth from various area high schools in providing resources to our residents.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

It should always be service before self.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have been a Public Servant since I joined the Marine Corps at age 18. Growing up with very little means, I understood the value of hard work and dedication to simply survive and raise a family. While working to achieve my own personal goals, I found it most rewarding to be in a position to give back and serve others. Throughout my civilian career in corporate American at Boeing and Ford, as well as my 21 years of military service, one of my greatest achievements has been the volunteer community service boards and initiatives which I have worked on along the way. Regardless of titles and positions, my experiences engrained in me that service to others comes before self. For these reasons, my decision to take an early retirement from a secure position as an engineer of 23 years at Ford Motor Company to serve my city as Mayor this year came.