Northville City Council Candidate Profile: Robert Grant

This year, voters will once again have the chance to shake up the membership of the city of Northville's five-member voting body when they head to the polls Nov. 8 to choose two council members.

The two 4-year seats currently occupied by Nancy Darga and Douglas Bingham are being sought by Darga, Ryan McKindles and Robert Grant. Bingham has opted to not seek re-election to the seat he has held since 2007.

Mayor Chris Johnson is also seeking his seat, but is running unopposed, unless someone files to run as a write-in candidate by Oct. 28.

With the number of issues facing the city, including shrinking revenue from the State of Michigan, Northville Patch interviewed each council candidate to see where they stand on the issues, and how they would go about setting policy that benefits the city and its residents.

To view the profile on Ryan McKindles, . The profile on Darga will be featured tomorrow.

Robert Grant

Robert Grant is an attorney with the Ford Motor Co. that focuses on product liability for the automaker. He has lived in the city of Northville for 16 years, and previously lived in Northville Township.

A native New Yorker, Grant said his candidacy is all about giving residents a choice in November.

“I was told that there were not a lot of people raising their right hand and saying they’d like to run,” he said. “I wanted to give voters a choice.”

Grant, 60, declined to name specific priorities, citing the fact that he is not privy to all of the information that current board members have.

However, Grant said his ability to analyze facts and make decisions – honed during many years as an attorney – would be an asset to the council. Though he would not speculate on what sets him apart from his competitors for the council seat, Grant said his profession has made him familiar with the consequences of not making well thought out decisions, and the ripple effect those decisions can have for individuals as well as the community.

Grant said that he believes the city well-run overall, and that he believes the current council is working had to maintain the positive economic and social environment in the city.

Grant said living among engaged, active residents is one of the best things about living in Northville. He said he enjoys not only the physical ambiance of the city, but also the family-oriented nature of the community and the fact that for the most part, residents are well-informed about the issues that affect them.

The candidate said he has not served in public office before.

When he’s not working, Grant is also a scout leader in Northville, and participates in several activities at Our Lady of Victory.