Former mayor, county commissioner ends 21-year career in local government
Wayne County Commissioner Abdul “Al” Haidous was hailed as a pioneer and inspiration to a new generation of county leaders during his final commission meeting in December.Haidous (D-Wayne) chose not to seek re-election this fall after serving 10 years as a county commissioner.
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans praised Haidous as not just an outstanding Arab American but a great American and dedicated community leader.
“He has been, in my mind, a real statesman. We may not always have agreed on everything but he has never been disagreeable,” Evans said, noting there were times when Haidous prompted a 180-degree shift in his opinion on certain issues.
Other county officials, including deputy Executive Assad Turfe, Undersheriff Mike Jaafar, Homeland Security Director Sam Jaafar, and Health and Human Services Director Abdul Al-Sayad credited Haidous as a personal inspiration.
Turfe cited Haidous’ 2001 election as mayor – two months after 9/11 and in a city with only 10 Arab American residents – as a turning point for the community and county at large.
“We had thought we could only be employees of a department, we could only be staffers but you showed us there is a way,” Turfe said.
Others cited their personal ties to the Haidous family.
Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) noted that her father was a frequent customer of Al’s Friendly Market, the Wayne business Haidous and his wife, Mary, operated for some 35 years.
Commissioner David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) remembered playing sports at the Wayne recreation center now named in Haidous’ honor.
Incoming District 11 Commissioner Al Wilson said he expected to work closely with Haidous on community issues, including those involving infrastructure and the environment.
Commissioner Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn), a longtime friend, was among those who called Haidous, “the perfect example of the American Dream.”
Haidous first emigrated from Lebanon to Africa before arriving in the United States as a young man.
He operated his family market for 35 years and was instrumental in garnering support from the Ford Wayne Assembly Plant to create a local youth baseball league.
In addition to his roles as county commission and mayor, Haidous also served on the Wayne City Council and Zoning Board of Appeals and many other city bodies.
He has served 10 years as chair of the SMART regional transportation authority board and was the county commission representative on the Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport Authority Board.
He and his wife are the parents of five children, several of whom attended the ceremony, and 12 grandchildren.
The commission’s 11th District includes Wayne, Belleville, Flat Rock, Romulus, as well as Sumpter, Van Buren and Huron townships
