If the public turnout Wednesday night at a council forum is any indicator of voter interest in Dearborn’s city council race, election night could favor incumbents.

The forum, hosted at Bryant Middle School by Dearborn Council of the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), drew about 16 people, counting program moderator Thomas Trimble, the PTSA’s legislative chair, and this writer, who arrived with the program already in progress.

Eleven of the 14 people running for the seven open seats on Dearborn City Council were in attendance. Mr. Trimble said Dearborn Council President Thomas Tafelski was unable to attend because of a work commitment and candidate George Hart left after complaining of not feeling well. Mr. Trimble said candidate Patrick Kiernan did not respond to the PTSA’s forum invite.

The event was not videotaped so there will be no future broadcast. Mr. Trimble said the PTSA will consider taping future forums for broadcast.

In other election news, the Dearborn Democratic Club and the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) recently released their endorsements for mayor, city council and school board.

The Dearborn Democratic Club endorsed eight candidates (even thought there are just seven seats) for city council; four incumbents and four non-incumbents. Jane Ahern, the club’s president, said eight were chosen to “highlight the fact that equal parts incumbency is as valued as equal parts new candidates.”

The Dearborn Democratic Club endorsed:

Dearborn Mayor

Jack B. O’Reilly Jr.

Dearborn City Clerk

Kathleen Buda (running unopposed)

Dearborn City Council

Bob Abraham

George Darany

Suzanne Sareini

Mark Shooshanian

David Bazzy

Sharon Dulmage

George Hart

Brian O’Donnell

Dearborn School Board

Pam Adams

Hussein Berry

The AAPAC endorsed:

Dearborn Mayor

John O’Reilly

Dearborn City Council

Robert Abraham

David Bazzy

George Darany

Brian O’Donnell

Suzanne Sareini

Ali Sayed

Thomas Tafelski

Dearborn School Board

Hussein Berry