Candidate Profile: Sommer Foster For Canton Township Trustee

Sommer Foster, a Canton resident is running for Canton Township Trustee.

Age: 43
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:Son, William age 15
Occupation:Non Profit Executive Director, have done policy and civic engagement work for 15 years.
Previous elected experience:Current Canton Township Trustee, Previous Canton Library Board Vice-Chair
Family members in government:No.
Campaign website: https://sommerfoster.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Residents voted to invest $110M to fix our roads in 2018. We have done miles of repair on main roads, approved or begun work in 29 subdivisions, and made an agreement with MDOT to tackle Ford Road. There is still mistrust and confusion about the program. We must educate and communicate with residents how we are spending their money, leveraging resources with Wayne County, and that we are making decisions based on PASAR and traffic count data to ensure the long-term sustainability of our roads network.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I’m an experienced leader. I was elected to the Library Board in 2012 and served as vice-chair. I was elected Trustee in 2016 and am on the Roads Advisory Committee and helped lead the Roads Task Force. I have served as Co-chair Vote Yes for PCCS - 2013, on the PCCS Community-District Equity Leadership Team, PCCS Sex Ed Advisory Committee, Canton Response to Hate Crimes Coalition and Plymouth-Canton Beloved Community, Chair. I am a servant leader that values equity and inclusion

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As Vice-Chair of the Canton Library Board, I helped save Canton taxpayers about $300,000 by paying off our bond early. In 2014, before I was elected to the township board, I helped write and pass our Canton Township Equal Rights Ordinance. As a trustee, I have paid down legacy costs, invested in critical resources for our public safety department, worked on issues of clean recycling, juvenile diversion program and did outreach to the state to help secure resources for our opioid recovery program. I led the charge to reform our board and commissions appointment process to bring new voices to the table.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
I believe the best way to spur economic activity is the invest in the workers that have been hurt by the pandemic and recession. We know that once we get resources into the hands into the people that can least afford to save it, they spend it boosting the local economy. This comes in the form of increased unemployment benefits, more federal stimulus and CDBG funds for local government to help families with rent/mortgage payments, utility bills and child care. Additionally, we can further support small business by providing low interest or interest free loans that incentivize employers retaining their employees.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
The relationship between police and the public is an important issue in Michigan. In Michigan and nationwide, Black and Latinx people are disparately impacted by policing, prosecution, and mass incarceration. Though Canton Township has done a good job, we must continue to hold public safety accountable to the community they serve. We should implement data collection and sharing best practices that are relevant and transparent. Implement an accountability commission, decriminalize poverty, increase use of diversionary programs (juvenile diversion program) and restorative practices (opioid recovery program). I started working in the social justice movement as an advocate for the LGBTQ community. In my work, I encountered many people that had faced discrimination or violence (many times sexual violence) and were hesitant to report crimes because of distrust of the system and distrust of people that are supposed to protect them. When there are folks in a community who are distrustful of the system, safety becomes an illusion. My experience leads me to believe that it is important to be proactive in building trust and building relationships between law enforcement and community, specifically communities that have faced historical oppression and disenfranchisement — before problems occur.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
Smart Planning and Protecting Green Space: We need to do what we can to protect our green spaces to make sure Canton remains a desirable community for this generation and the next. More pocket parks, creating walking paths, connecting sidewalks, and more pedestrian bridges will make Canton a safer community to walk, play, and be active in.
Recycling and Sustainability: Climate Change is real. That is a fact. We are also in the midst of a global recycling crisis. As a local government, we can't control what is done at the state and federal level, but we can prioritize protecting our natural resources, extending the life of our landfill by encouraging clean recycling, and creating a sustainability plan that looks at alternative sources of energy and committing to a goal of reducing our dependence on carbon.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I’m a non-profit executive. I lead an organization with a $3.6 million dollar budget focused on civic access, civic representation, and civic engagement. We work to end systemic disenfranchisement targeting communities of color, young adults, LGBTQ people and women. I am also a Canton Trustee, but my most important title is mom to my 10th grade son, William.