Haberman announces for Trott district

Democrat Dan Haberman of Birmingham announced on Thursday, October 5, that he was running in 2018 for the 11th congressional district, which encompasses Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, part of Rochester Hills, Troy, the western Oakland lakes area and part of western Wayne County, currently held by Republican David Trott, who has announced he would not run for re-election.

“I'm running for Congress because it's time to send leaders to Washington who aren't afraid to speak honestly about the challenges facing our country and the special interests that work against the well-being of actual people,” Haberman said.

Haberman, an attorney and entrepreneur, has dedicated his life and career to strengthening his community, and he said he will bring that dedication to Congress.

He noted his roots in southeast Michigan are deep. His grandparents started Haberman Fabrics in Royal Oak, then known as House of Fabrics, long before he was born, and his parents, Sam and Toby, grew the business. After graduating from University of Detroit High School, Haberman earned a BA in political science from the University of Michigan. A love of politics and an internship for former Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan) took him to Georgetwon University Law School in Washington D.C., where he earned his JD in 1998.

After law school, Haberman returned to Michigan to serve as general counsel for his brother Jeremy’s live music venue, the Magic Bag. He also led a public health movement for smoke-free air in Michigan. Despite opposition from the tobacco, restaurant, liquor and casino lobbies, the smoke-free air bill was signed into law in December 2009, which he said has brought economic development and growth to the hospitality industry in Michigan. Unfortunately, just as the law was signed, Jeremy was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, likely caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.

Today, Haberman maintains a limited entertainment and real estate legal practice, as well as running Byte & Mortar Offices, a boutique office workspace. He and his wife Jo, live in Birmingham with their two daughters, Eila and Suri.

“I've made more changes in government without even holding office than most of these job-hopping insiders,” Haberman said. “I risked everything – my bottom line, and my reputation – to take on the special interests trying to steal our voice. If I can do all of that without holding office, imagine what I can do in office.”

Two other candidates have already announced they will seek the Democratic party nomination in the 2018 August primary – Hayley Stevens, former chief of staff for Obama’s auto task force, and Fayrouz Saad, who worked for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. The filing deadline for this race is next spring.