Candidate Profile: Marv Gans Seeks Re-Election to Northville Township Board of Trustees

Today, we begin featuring a series of interviews with the six candidates vying for one of four seats on Northville Township's board of trustees.

is seeking re-election to the board. He's one of five Republican candidates running in the Aug. 7 primary., we asked the same questions of each candidate. Below are Gans' replies. Two trustee candidates' profiles will be featured in alphabetical order throughout this week.

See to view interviews with the three candidates for supervisor and treasurer candidates and .

Q: Name and profession

Marv Gans, retired Schoolcraft College administrator and recreational and athletic facilities-planning consultant.

Q: Number of years a resident of Northville Township?

45 years

Q: Educational and/or military background:

• B.A. in Education, Hunter College, New York City, NY
• M.S. in Educational Administration and Educational Specialist, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Ph.D. in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletic Administration, with a specialty in Physical Education Facility Planning, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Q: Why are you running for office?

My experience, dedication and service to the community I love, and commitment to keeping Northville Township a great place to live, work and play, inspire me to seek re-election.

Q: What are the biggest issues facing the township that you hope to address? What are its biggest successes that you hope to continue?  

The biggest challenge Northville Township faces is decreased revenue from property taxes, state revenue sharing, etc. to support its public services. I believe the township should address this concern by increasing its commercial tax base and fiscal responsibility with township assets and expenditures. While strides have been made, this continued approach will effectively address the problem long term without placing added financial pressure on current residents.

The township has had many successes it can be proud of, including the quality of public services it offers, as well as land acquisition and collaboration with developers, utilities and the county for mutual benefit to provide Northville Township with additional amenities, such as parks, development, and connecting pathways for easy access to community properties.

Q: We've reported quite a bit on developments at the Seven Mile property, the former psychiatric hospital, and at the Robert Scott Correctional Facility. What do you hope to see done with the Seven Mile Property and Robert Scott Correctional Facility?

For the Seven Mile property, the township has already made plans to clean the site of debris and contaminants, preserve the forested land, and develop over a period of time a comprehensive recreational plan, complete with walking paths and a myriad of other features. I am in agreement with this plan and believe much of this can be accomplished at minimal cost through collaboration with special interest volunteer groups.

In regard to the Robert Scott Correctional facility, we must investigate all aspects and do our due diligence to establish a favorable agreement with the State of Michigan regarding this property. We should determine the feasibility of acquiring all or part of the 35-acre property so the township can control what goes in at the entrance to the township at the corner of Beck and Five Mile roads. Since the township already owns 210 acres of land between the prison and Napier Road, this will allow for effective planning of the Five Mile corridor.

Q: Anything else you would like to briefly add?

If re-elected, I will continue to serve Northville Township with commitment and zeal, utilizing my wealth of knowledge and experience. During my 30 years of varied community service so far, I have helped the township increase its land ownership from 69 acres to over 800 acres. I have also lead efforts resulting in the cumulative donation of approximately $1 million for physical recreation facilities in Northville. I have had a hand in the development of almost every park within our community, saving the township an estimated total of over $5 million in value through collaboration with developers and volunteers. I have successfully developed trusted working relationships with township administration, employees and the community at large. I am committed to a positive, well-rounded future for our residents and it is my deepest desire to continue these efforts for the community I love. 

For more election coverage details, see our

Who do you plan to vote for in the election? .