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Roster of Lebanese Americans Currently in Public Service & Political Life

 

There are about 3 million Lebanese-Americans, and as a community, we've been demonstrating our loyalty, inventiveness and courage on behalf of the United States for over 100 years. Here are just a few of the more famous ones -- people you may know!


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
Judge Stephen M. George, Family Court Judge Jefferson County Trial Courts

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