Dearborn Heights Council Chair Hassan Ahmad Steps Up to Wayne County Commission

Hassan Ahmad, the outgoing council chairman of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, has been appointed to the Wayne County Commission, filling a seat left open after commissioner David Knezek departed to become president of Henry Ford College. The vacancy opened up in mid-July, when Knezek, who had represented District 8 since 2020, resigned to take the helm of the Dearborn community college. The Wayne County Commission had solicited letters of interest from residents of the district — which spans Dearborn Heights, Garden City and Inkster — with an August 4 deadline, and the full commission voted on a replacement on August 6. Ahmad, a real estate professional who has spent two decades in the industry as an associate broker with RE/MAX Leading Edge, was nominated by Commissioner Sam Baydoun and seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch. He takes over representing roughly double the number of constituents he served on the Dearborn Heights council, where he was first elected in 2020 and rose to council chairman in 2025. "I am deeply honored and humbled to have been appointed to serve on the Wayne County Commission representing the residents of Dearborn Heights, Garden City and Inkster," Ahmad said following the vote, thanking Knezek for his recommendation and his fellow commissioners for their support. Beyond his council and real estate work, Ahmad holds an engineering degree from Oakland University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He currently serves as president of the Dearborn Area Board of Realtors and sits on the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons. He has also volunteered with a number of local nonprofits, including the Lebanese American Heritage Club, the Dearborn Heights Fireman's Burn Drive, the Michigan Veterans Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. Knezek, who is stepping into higher education after years in county government and, before that, in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, praised the transition. "I believe Commissioner Ahmad will transition seamlessly into this role given his extensive experience both serving on and leading a legislative body," he said, adding that he was confident Ahmad's "kindness, collegiality and passion for helping others" would serve Wayne County well. Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun called the moment "bittersweet," noting the city loses an experienced council leader even as it gains representation at the county level. Ahmad's departure from the council creates a vacancy that the remaining council members are expected to fill under the city charter. The appointment adds to a notable stretch for Arab American political representation in Southeast Michigan this election cycle, following a Michigan primary season that also expanded Arab American representation in the state legislature. Ahmad's appointment took effect immediately, and he now joins a commission that oversees a broad swath of county government, from public safety to infrastructure investment, for a district home to a significant Arab American population. Ahmad said his priority is bringing county resources back to his new, larger constituency. "My goal is to be a strong and effective voice for our communities, advocate for their needs and work tirelessly to bring county resources, investment and opportunities back to our residents," he said.