- Formed: January 1998
- Independent Political Committee, State of Michigan ID # 508703-6
- Federal Election Commission ID # C00346239
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AAPAC was formed by a group of Arab American
professionals to organize and encourage the political activities of Arab Americans. AAPAC
is non-partisan and independent from any other existing organization or interest group.
Our primary concern is the Arab American Community as a whole regardless of the personal
interests of any individual or group of individuals. Our main objectives are:
Prepare, advise and support Arab American candidates
for political offices. Encourage and help Arab Americans to pursue public service careers
in all branches of the government.
Maintain contact with non-Arab
political candidates, meet with them, discuss their platforms,
introduce them to the community and decide whom to support among them.
Lobby on behalf of the Arab American political causes
which are of concern to the majority of the community as approved by the members of the
organization.
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Candidates must submit their endorsement request to
AAPAC in writing. AAPAC's Endrosement Committee will then start the review process. This
process includes any or all of the following: research of the candidate's voting record,
review of his/her positions on the issues, review of his/her public statements, and/or a
personal interview. The Endorsement Committee will then submit its recommendation to the
general membership at the Endorsement Meeting. At that meeting, only candidates who obtain
two-thirds of the votes will be endorsed. |
Once AAPAC endorses a candidate or a ballot proposal,
its members will use all available resources to campaign on behalf of the candidate or
proposal. The campaign may include: local TV appearances and commercials, newspapers ads,
appearance with the candidate at community events, distribution of slate cards at the
polls on election day, lawn signs, and most importantly direct bilingual mailing to Arab
American registered voters in the affected area. For example, in November 1998 and May
1999, AAPAC mailed its newsletter and endorsements to over 9,300 Arab American voters in
Dearborn and over 1,400 voters in Dearborn Heights. |
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