DEARBORN — On Oct. 22, just days leading up to the Nov. 2 statewide election, the gubernatorial candidates took the stage at a banquet for the American Arab Chamber of Commerce to outline their plans for Michigan’s uncertain future.

According to chamber press release about 1100 attended the 18th annual “Building Economic Bridges” banquet which was held at The Henry in Dearborn. 

(L-R) AACC Executive Chairman Ahmad Chebbani, 2010 Bridge Builder of the Year award recipient Dr. Yahya Basha and AACC Executive Director Fay Beydoun.

Democrat Virg Bernero, the son of Italian immigrants, pledged to fight racial inequality.  “I’m proud to stand with my Arab brothers and sisters. I have, and I will fight discrimination when and wherever it rears its ugly head,” he said. 

 The current mayor of Lansing called advanced manufacturing a key part of Michigan’s past and a vital part of its future. He said Republican candidate Rick Snyder told the Grand Rapids Press manufacturing should be put to bed and Michigan should move on.  “I don’t believe that Mexico and China can do all our manufacturing for us. If you believe that, I’m not your guy,” said Bernero. 

He later called Snyder a liar saying, “I tell it like it is. My opponent says unemployment went up 88 percent in Lansing. What he didn’t tell you is how much unemployment went up in Ann Arbor, the town where he supposedly created jobs. It went over 100 percent in Ann Arbor at the same time. It went up 120 percent in Grand Rapids.  My friends, you know figures don’t lie, but liars do sometimes figure.”

Bernero made two proposals on improving the economy. The first is getting banks to start lending again. The second proposal, “Make it in Michigan for Free,” would prevent entrepreneurs from paying taxes on their businesses for up to 12 years. With the program government officials can identify and acquire land and buildings they think have potential to become new business ventures. The land or building is given away for free under the condition that the business can generate enough money to operate and employ associates. If conditions are met owners are exempt from paying taxes for 12 years.

Bernero said unlike his opponent he has experience in public service. “It’s one thing to talk, talk is cheap. It’s one thing to talk about bipartisanship, and government reform, and balancing budgets. I’ve been in the trenches doing it. I’ve balanced five budgets in a row in Lansing during tough times. Five balanced budgets, no tax increases, double-A-plus credit rating in the city of Lansing. What we’ve done for the city of Lansing we can do for the state of Michigan,” he said.

According to a report released by the Milken Institute, Lansing has the fastest growing economy in the state of Michigan and the seventh best economy in the nation.

Republican candidate Rick Snyder’s speech was the same he gave a week earlier at an annual gala for the Arab American and Chaldean Council.  He called the Michigan Business Tax a job killer and says he would replace it with a flat 6 percent corporate income tax.  He said Michigan can be a great state once Detroit is on the path to being a great city again.  He introduced his 10-point economic plan without going over it in detail.  

Snyder stressed that bipartisanship was critical to the state’s success. “We wear too many labels, there’s only one we should be wearing, and that’s Michigander,” he said.

He announced a three step plan to improving Michigan. The first includes a clear positive vision of the future. The second step he says is having a plan to go from “a big disaster” to a great future. The third step is about taking action that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. “Those are the three key steps, and that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.

The annual banquet celebrates another year of the AACC’s success and service to Arab  American business owners and honors distinguished individuals for their tireless efforts in building economic bridges between the United States and the Arab world.

This year’s 2010 Bridge Builder of the Year awardees are Charles Kalil, Executive Vice President, Law and Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of The Dow Chemical company and Dr. Yahya Basha, president and founder of Basha Diagnostics.

Dr. Basha serves on several non-profit boards and is well known for building bridges between religions, political parties and dismantling stereotypes about Arab Americans. Former Gov. John Engler appointed Dr. Basha to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission in 1999. Dr. Basha also served on the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation for the U.S. Department of Education for three years. He was appointed “Civilian Ambassador” in 2006 by the U.S. State Department.

The Dow’s longstanding relationship with the Middle East began 30 years ago with the establishment of manufacturing and commercial facilities in the United Arab Emirates. In 2009, it employed 52,000 people internationally and annual sales hit $45 billion.

One of the chamber’s newest initiatives includes the creation of a Small Business Center, which will focus on assisting product export development, emerging and existing small-and medium-sized business enhancement, entrepreneurial activities, mentorship and women-owned businesses.

The new center will offer several programs to enable businesses to expand, via one-on-one counseling, small group business-training courses, research services, and will serve as an import-export clearing house.

Director Fay Beydoun reiterated that the chamber’s goals and projects will ensure that the American Arab community flourishes and its entrepreneurial spirit prosper. Attendees were able to network and make important business connections with some of the area’s most prominent businesspeople and decision makers.