Published Jan. 10, 2026

The City of Dearborn held an inauguration ceremony to swear in its Mayor, City Council, and Clerk at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, Council President Michael T. Sareini, the 35th City Council, and City Clerk George Darany were sworn in by First District Court of Appeals Judge Mariam Saad Bazzi.

The November 2025 election, which experienced an increased voter turnout compared to 2021, saw voters select a new Council Pro Tem, Kamal Alsawafy. First term Councilman Devon O’Reilly will join incumbent members Mustapha A. Hammoud, Robert A. Abraham, Ken Paris, and Gary A. Enos.

Invocations were delivered by Bishop Brock Dunlap of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Imam Sayed Saleh Qazwini. The national anthem was sung by Vanessa El-Zein.

The ceremony is available to view, in full, at the City of Dearborn’s official YouTube page. 

The ceremony marked the second term for Mayor Hammoud, who won reelection with an overwhelming vote share. During his remarks, Hammoud took time to reflect on his first term in office.

“The last four years have been among the most transformative in Dearborn’s history,” Hammoud stated. “Together, we brought more than $100 million dollars in new resources. We invested over $30 million to improve our parks — expanding green spaces, accessibility, and recreation in every corner of our city. We refuse to accept that catastrophic flooding is simply our future, we’ve invested more than $25 million in flood preparedness and are advancing long-term solutions to protect our neighborhoods.”

Hammoud highlighted record staffing levels in the city’s police and fire departments, increased traffic enforcement through citations, a decrease in traffic accidents, and thriving neighborhoods and businesses.

The mayor also referenced Ford Motor Company’s “commitment to our city,” with the opening of a new global headquarters as part of the new Henry Ford II World Center.

“Looking ahead, the work continues,” Hammoud said. “We will take on the challenge of building more housing, increasing affordability and availability. We will deepen our public health efforts, creating cleaner, greener, and more welcoming neighborhoods. We will expand community events that strengthen the bonds between neighbors. And we will continue building transformational spaces to create, to gather, and to belong.”

Dearborn voters also elected Sareini to lead the City Council for his second consecutive term as President.

“This role is personal to me,” stated Sareini, a Dearborn native whose mother Suzanne Sareini previously served on Council as the city’s first Arab American elected official. “It reflects years of commitment to a city that shaped who I am, and a responsibility to help ensure Dearborn continues to thrive, not just for today, but for generations to come.”

Sareini said November's election not only reflected voters’ confidence in his leadership, but signaled affirmation of the city’s direction.

“I am proud of the work that has been done, and at the same time, I recognize that there is still much more work ahead,” said Sareini, “We are entrusted with setting policy, passing legislation, and exercising careful oversight of the city’s finances. Fiscal responsibility is not optional — it is an obligation to our residents and to the future of this city.”
 
View a photo gallery from the 2026 Dearborn Inauguration Ceremony at the City of Dearborn’s Facebook page.

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