Hatem served as a state athletic commissioner and as chairman of the State Accident Fund. He served two terms on the state's Department of Employment Security's Board of Appeals. He also served on the Interstate Advisory Commission on the Susquehanna River.[3][4]
In 1969, Hatem was appointed to the Board of County Commissioners. He resigned in 1970 when he was appointed by Governor Marvin Mandel as state insurance commissioner. In 1974, Hatem ran for Maryland's 1st congressional district seat in U.S. Congress, but lost to Robert Bauman. He was re-appointed as state insurance commissioner. He served until 1976. In 1976, acting Governor Blair Lee III appointed Hatem to a six-year term on the Public Service Commission. He did not seek reappointment in 1982.[3]
In 1983 and 1984, Hatem served as a part-time lobbyist for Harford County in Annapolis.[4] In 1984, Hatem campaigned to become a circuit judge, but he was passed over.[3][4]
Hatem practiced law in Havre de Grace and Bel Air.[3] He worked with Johnny Kelly.[4] He was the head of the Harford County Housing Authority.[3]
Hatem died of leukemia on March 19, 1985, at the age of 59, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.[7] He was buried at Bel Air Memorial Gardens in Bel Air.[8]
