Tuesday’s election: Muslim candidates run for Franklin and Madison alders

Abdirahman Siad (left) and Nabil Salous (right) run for Madison and Franklin city councils, respectively.

In Tuesday’s election, Muslims are on the ballot for Wisconsin city council seats—Nabil Salous in Franklin and Abdirahman Siad in Madison. Two important statewide races will also be decided for a Wisconsin Supreme Court judge and the state superintendent of education.

The Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance endorsed both Salous and Siad, as well as other candidates in local elections. WMCA also endorsed Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin Supreme Court and recumbent Jill Underly for state superintendent.

WMCA also advocates for a “No” vote on the statewide voter ID referendum.

Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance executive director Fauzi Qureshi (center) and her parents Shahzad (left) and Shahida (right) Qureshi participated February in WMCA’s Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Madison.

Salous vies for Franklin Common Council seat

Nabil Salous, a civil engineer and business owner, is running to represent District 5 on Franklin’s Common Council because “I can definitely make a difference,” he told the Wisconsin Muslim Journal in a recent interview. He describes himself as “an independent with conservative values.”

“As Muslims, we have an obligation to give back to the community,” Salous said. “Deep in my heart, I feel in this position I can make a difference in the lives of the people in the Franklin community.”

If elected, Salous would become the second Muslim to join the Franklin Common Council in a city with a growing Muslim community. In 2023, retired pharmacist Yousef Hasan became the first Muslim to serve as an alder in Franklin. Muslims play an active civic role in Franklin, including serving on the school board and city committees and as volunteers in schools and other local organizations.

Salous’s education and experience in both civil engineering and business have prepared him to contribute significantly to Franklin’s Common Council, he said. “That’s the main reason I decided to run.”

As the owner of a construction management company for 25 years, “I have investors who trust my judgment. I do projects for them from A to Z, from acquiring the land and planning until it is completed.”

“I deal with different municipalities all the time in my career,” said the owner of Salous Construction Management. (He also owns Salous Men’s Wear & Tailoring in Milwaukee.) “How a city handles construction applications, potential investors and developers is critical to its bottom line.”

Salous believes in taking a long view on city planning and development, he said. “If you look at a city like Franklin, you start with the need for infrastructure. It is the window to development.”

The key is good planning and considering projects in the context of the entire city, he said. “Commercial development is very important for stabilizing the tax base and balancing the expenses of residential development, such as services, the police department, the school system and the like. It is extremely important to make sure the master plan is going to serve the city for the long term.

“I am a business owner working in the private sector where we learn how to make ends meet,” Salous added. “We know the importance of developing projects on time and on budget.”

Salous, his wife and their three children moved to Franklin 25 years ago. They built their house in the Princeton Estates neighborhood at a time when Franklin was beginning to transform from a rural area to a city. Their children attended Franklin public schools.

Salous’ campaign has been active, sending three waves of mailings to the entire district, knocking on doors and making phone calls. “I want to make sure we do our due diligence,” he explained. “I am answerable to the people who supported me and donated to my campaign.

“Now it is up to the voters,” he said. “I hope that everyone knows it is important to get out and vote. That’s what really counts.”

WMCA endorsed Salous for the alder position because “he has great experience related to the role,” Qureshi said. “He has played a central role in the development of Islamic institutions in Greater Milwaukee. He has been a general contractor and project manager for the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s Salam School and Masjid Al Noor in Brookfield. He’s actively engaged with Muslim leaders as a member of ISM’s Shura council and has offered his experience in meeting the needs of the growing Muslim population. 

“Br. Nabil has lived in Franklin 25 years and knows it well,” she added. “He received endorsements from Franklin’s mayor, along with the current alder in the district.  Both those endorsements speak volumes.”

WMCA endorsed Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. It utilizes digital mobile trucks to visit mosques in Greater Milwaukee “to share important voter information,” WMCA executive director Fauzia Qureshi said.

Madison’s Abdirahman Siad runs for wife’s council seat

Abdirahman Siad, an IT professional, project management consultant and author, with a doctorate in veterinary medicine and two master’s degrees, including an Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is running to represent District 7 on Madison’s Common Council. 

His wife, Ald. Nasra Wehelie, represented this district on Madison’s west side since November 2020. She announced in December she will not run for re-election. 

Siad has been a resident of Madison for 35 years.

“I am running for the District 7 Alder for the Madison Common Council to amplify the voices of our district and work toward solutions that benefit everyone,” says a statement on Siad’s campaign website. His campaign slogan is “Working Towards a Madison for All.”

“With a background in business, I have worked to support minority businesses and helped promote employment opportunities and create pathways to economic opportunity … Life has shaped me into an eternal optimist who believes in the power of opportunity and access,” statements on his campaign website say.

Siad’s priorities and other information about his background and reasons for running are also on the website. WMJ was not able to reach Siad for an interview.

WMCA is endorsing Siad because of his knowledge of the issues in his district and his engagement with the community, Qureshi said. “He has been deeply involved, alongside his wife Nasra. They co-founded an organization called Muslim Youth of Madison, which focuses on helping Muslim children engage in their faith and contribute to the broader community.”

Members of that youth organization participated in local, regional and national scholastic tournaments that encouraged them to succeed, Qureshi added. “Those who are now grown are giving back to their communities. This experience has reinforced his belief in the power of mentorship, education and community involvement to create lasting positive change.”

WMCA endorses Crawford and Underly, and calls for a “No” vote on statewide referendum

“We are asking our community to vote for Susan Crawford for the Supreme Court and Jill Underly for the superintendent of public instruction, and we’re really focusing on the statewide referendum, asking folks to vote ‘No,’” said WMCA executive director Qureshi. “We are pushing for our community to go to the polls and make their voices heard.”

WMCA is backing Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin Supreme Court because “free speech is very important to our community, especially right now,” Qureshi said. “When we asked her how supportive she is of protecting First Amendment rights, she responded (in a WMCA questionnaire):

“I strongly believe that one of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s primary purposes is to protect and uphold the rights of citizens recognized under our Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions.

“Political speech is a core right protected under the First Amendment, entitled to the highest level of protection by the courts from governmental infringement under the law. 

“The courts must give any governmental restriction on political speech, strict scrutiny and should uphold such restrictions only if justified by a compelling state or national interest.”

“We are also proud to endorse Jill Underly for her commitment to supporting inclusive and respectful education in Wisconsin,” Qureshi said. “Her willingness to address our concerns about how 9/11 is taught in schools and her support for sharing educational materials that promote understanding reflect her dedication to student wellbeing. 

“Additionally, while the Muslim Contributions Bill (which would require the contributions of Muslims to the state be included in the curriculum) must go through the legislative process, we appreciate her support for recognizing and celebrating the contribution of Muslims in America.”

In the statewide referendum, Wisconsin voters will decide on a referendum that aims to embed the current voter ID law into the State Constitution. “Why vote ‘No’?” Qureshi asked rhetorically. “Wisconsin’s existing voter ID law is among the most restrictive in the nation. We already have strict voter ID laws. (Enshrining it in the Constitution) reflects attempts to bypass executive and judicial authority without allowing citizen-led initiatives. A vote of ‘No’ opposes this addition, keeping the current law as it is and preserving flexibility for future changes.”