AGIUS, APIGIAN SPOTLIGHTED CANDIDATES
By Sean Delaney, Press & Guide Newspapers
Dearborn Press and Guide, MI
June 6 2007
DEARBORN HEIGHTS – In about two months, residents will be asked to
help narrow the field of candidates seeking a seat on the Dearborn
Heights City Council from eight to six.
The current field of candidates includes Dearborn Heights residents
Ned Apigian, Bob Brown, George Landry, Maria Ellul Langlois, Barbara
Langlois and Rose Tripepi, as well as incumbent candidates Elizabeth
Agius and Ken Baron.
In an effort to keep our readers informed about the candidates and
the issues they will face if elected, the Press & Guide will profile
the candidates alphabetically in future editions leading up to the
Aug. 7 primary. Each candidate was asked to provide brief biographical
information, and to tell voters why they have chosen to run.
Agius and Apigian will be profiled in this issue, followed by
Baron, Brown, Landry, Ellul Langlois, Langlois and Tripepi in future
editions. Each candidate is vying for one of three open seats on the
council, including the seat of former Councilman Bob Constan.
Now, let’s gets to know City Council candidates Elizabeth Agius and
Ned Apigian.
Agius, 40, has lived in the city of Dearborn Heights for 20 years
and is currently employed as a program evaluator and research analyst
and the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
She has served as a member of the Dearborn Heights City Council for
eight years and has been elected to serve as Council Chair for the
past three years.
In her spare time, Agius enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time
with her family and friends. She is a member of the St. Linus Parish,
the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, the Maltese-American Community
Club and currently serves as a board member of the Michigan Association
for Evaluation.
Agius is married to her husband Christian Klein, who serves as an
adjunct professor of psychology at Wayne State University and the
University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is the daughter of Frances and
Emmanuel Agius, who currently serves as a field representative for
Wayne County Commissioner Philip Cavanagh.
Agius also has two sisters – Judy Rodriguez and Pauline Raymond –
and one brother, Michael. She has two nieces and five nephews.
Why have you chosen to run for City Council?
Agius: I am committed to continuing to make Dearborn Heights a great
place to live. I’m running again because I believe I possess the
knowledge and experience necessary to do a good job for residents.
My priorities are to continue working to provide great services such
as high quality public safety, and to work with the administration
to generate cost-savings in the city.
Apigian, 69, is a semi-retired, self-employed architect, professional
community planner and residential builder licensed by the state of
Michigan. He has lived in the city of Dearborn Heights for 36 years.
While he has not held public office before, Apigian is an active member
of the community and has run unsuccessfully for several local offices.
He has served on the board of directors of the Armenian Community
Center, St. Sarkis Towers in Dearborn and the American Association of
Architects, as well as the Armenian Cultural Association of America
and Camp Haiastan located in Franklin, Mass. He is also a member of
St. Sarkis Church.
Apigian has been married to his wife, Aroxie, for 42 years. They have
one daughter, Heather Apigian Krafian – a 1983 graduate of Dearborn
High School and a 1988 graduate of Michigan State University – who
currently residents in Belmont, Mass. He also has four granddaughters,
ages 4, 8, 11 and 14. His wife is employed as an administrative
assistant for a Southfield-based law firm.
Why have you chosen to run for City Council?
Apigian: I would bring a very special background to the deliberations
of the Council as a design and physical planning professional licensed
in three separate disciplines, which no other city council person or
candidate can bring to the process.
The city does not employ a staff person with my background and
professional qualifications, which can only be a useful asset on the
City Council.
Candidates Ken Baron (I) and Brown will be profiled in the June 13
edition of the Press & Guide, followed by candidates Landry and Maria
Ellul Langlois on June 20. Candidates Barbara Langlois and Tripepi
will be profiled in the June 27 edition.
For more coverage leading up to the August primary and the general
election in November, see future editions of the Press & Guide.
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