Democrats Field 7 Candidates for Canton Township Office

CANTON TOWNSHIP, MI – Seven Democrats are seeking election to the Canton Township Board of Trustees — the first time in decades that the party fielded a full slate of candidates for township offices.

The candidates, including five current and former elected officials, are running under a uniform platform — “Moving Canton Forward Together” — and offer a clear vision for the township, according to a news release.

“They are dedicated to ensuring thoughtful community design to improve the experience of all residents,” said Canton Township Trustee Steven Sneideman, currently the only Democrat elected to township office and a candidate for re-election. “Top priorities are also to make smart investments in Canton’s infrastructure and the Township’s professional workforce while improving the fiscal strength of the community through the wise management of legacy costs.

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“Every member of the team pledges to focus on upholding strict standards of integrity with an inclusive and transparent environment, communicating openly with residents,” said Sneidman, who is president of the Canton Democratic Club.

Voters in the township are increasingly supporting Democratic candidates.

In the 2012 general election, when Sneidman last ran for office, Democrats carried the presidential, congressional, state representative and most county races. Sneideman was the only Democrat on the ballot in the township races, and he received more votes than four Republicans on the ballot.

The slate of Democrats seeking township office in 2016 include:

Dr. Syed Taj — candidate for township supervisor: A former township trustee from 2008-2012, businessman, teacher and civic leader, Taj was born in India, graduated from the Patna Medical College at the age of 21 and immigrated in 1982 to the United States, where he practiced medicine at Oakwood Hospital, retiring as chair of the Department of Medicine.

Dian Slavens — candidate for treasurer: During her six years as Canton’s state representative, Slavens co-sponsored legislation that asked elected officials to share the same sacrifices as Michigan families and eliminated taxpayer­-funded lifetime healthcare for state lawmakers.

“As someone who has been a fighter for the citizens of this community, I am ready to move Canton forward in a fiscally responsible way,” Slavens said in a statement.

Michael Siegrist — candidate for clerk: Siegrist has served as a trustee for both the Canton Public Library and Plymouth­-Canton Community Schools, and also served as president of the absentee counting board. Siegrist chaired the library while having to absorb a 27 percent revenue loss during the Great Recession, and is currently served on the school board’s Finance & Operations committee, helping manage a $150 million budget.

“From Washington DC to Lansing, people feel shut out while decisions are made that impact their family,” Siegrist, who provides tax planning and accounting services for the Siegrist & Siegrist CPA firm, said in a statement. “We can repair that sacred bond by ensuring transparency and accountability at the local level.”

Sommer Foster — candidate for township trustee: Currently the vice chair of the Canton Public Library, Foster helped oversee a three-phase renovation and improvement project. Foster also served as secretary­-treasurer and for three years has been a member of the finance committee. She is currently the director of policy and outreach for Equality Michigan, and worked with township trustees to bring a human rights ordinance to Canton.

Foster also served as co-­chair for the Vote Yes PCCS bond committee that raised the funds to build the world-­class Liberty Middle School and pay for other school improvements. She is a founding member of the Beloved Community, helped organize the Not In Our Town program, and is a member of the Canton Response to Hate Crimes Coalition.

Anne Marie Graham ­Hudak — candidate for township trustee: Graham Hudak is a founding member, moderator, board director and vice ­president of the Northwest Wayne County League of Women Voters and chair of the Plymouth Canton Citizens for Diversity and Inclusion. She has worked 21 years in engineering for the automotive industry and has experience with design and supervision of facility construction.

Graham ­Hudak has also led efforts in community service and advocacy through coordinating the Interfaith Community Outreach group. She directed development of a Habitat for Humanity green neighborhood and business model with other automotive industry volunteers.

Dhaval Vaishnav — candidate for township trustee: Vaishnav has lived in Canton for 21 years. During his 15 years at Ford Motor Co., he led a wide array of projects, both in North America and globally, that combined business planning with mechanical and industrial engineering and saved the company millions of dollars. He now runs his own company, Vaishnav Enterprises, which specializes in retail and real estate ventures in Canton.

Vaishnav is also president of the Temple of Canton. His philanthropic efforts include coordinating an annual health fair geared toward Canton residents, directing youth cultural programs, organizing meal services for the needy, supervising Habitat for Humanity projects, participating in Walk for Kids, and leading a section of the Rouge River Clean up every year.

Sneideman — candidate for re-election as township trustee: Sneideman has lived in Canton for 22 years, and has worked at AT&T and IBM for 29 years. Before he was elected a Canton Township trustee, he served as president and treasurer of the Plymouth­-Canton School Board. He also has served in various positions for the Canton Community Foundation, Canton Partnership for the Arts and Plymouth Arts Council.

“There is a laundry list of deteriorating assets in the Township that have been ignored for far too long and they must be addressed,” Sneideman said in a statement. “The longer we wait, the more difficult and costly this maintenance will become.”

Photo

From left, Dhaval Vaishnav (candidate for trustee), Anne Marie Graham Hudak (candidate for trustee), Michael Siegrist (candidate for clerk), Dr. Syed Taj (candidate for supervisor), Dian Slavens (candidate for treasurer), Sommer Foster (candidate for trustee) and Steven Sneideman (incumbent and candidate for trustee).