Candidate Profile: Tania Ganguly For Canton Township Trustee

Tania Ganguly, a Canton resident is running for Canton Township Trustee.

Age: 49
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family:Husband Snehasis-engineer at Ford, Daughter Aarushi-Freshman at University of Michigan
Occupation:Finance Manager-Americas at VCA ,10 years
Previous elected experience:None
Family members in government:None
Campaign website: https://www.tania4cantontrustee.com/

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
In the short term the biggest issue facing the state is the pandemic. A mask mandate, phased opening and assistance to small businesses.In the long term, the biggest issue is sustainability and preserving the great lakes. We need to work on preserving our great lakes for the future generation.Educating the community about recycling, increasing more renewable energy options, and making sure our water is safe are the steps I would take in preserving our great lakes state.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
My diverse experiences as an engineer, a mother, a student, a volunteer in the community and an organizer for the Democrats helps me bring a collective perspective in serving my community of Canton, which I call my home for the last 15 years. With twenty years of working in both the corporate world and a government agency, I bring in a different set of experience to serve the community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have been on the board of a local non profit as a president and vice president. I have brought together multiple stakeholders in working towards a common goal. I have 20 years of corporate experience, 10 of which is working as a finance manager for a British government agency. This gives me the experience of balancing budgets and optimal utilization of resources. I have also been a community volunteer in the community. So I know the needs of the community in terms of the needs of the growing ageing population, the diverse demographics and making our community a welcoming community.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
The state government is already working on helping with unemployment benefits and loans on helping small businesses. The state should work on a phased opening of businesses by offering assistance for PPE and other needs. The state should also work on a moratorium for mortgage payment for local businesses.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
I will work towards having an implicit bias training in the police force on a periodic basis, help recruit a diverse police department that represents the community and working on building relationship between the community and the public safety departments. I will work with local non profits to decrease the inequity in our community and help divest in more programs of mentoring and other opportunities for our diverse young population.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
The three policy initiatives that I am running on are 1. Diversity and inclusion- My community I live consist of 30% of immigrant population especially Asians and Arab Americans. I want to implement programs for everyone, including people of different faiths, ages, and cultures, as well as people who speak different languages and people with special needs. 2.I want to work towards environmental preservation in a rapidly growing by working towards preserving green spaces,work with federal and local governments and increase recycling efforts to reduce the landfill, and build public private partnerships towards making the township more carbon neutral. 3. Canton is a rapidly growing township and we can set the bar for smart, sustainable development. I want to ensure, for example, that the development in Canton is mutually beneficial to residents and commercial stakeholders, with close attention paid to the needs of Canton Township’s small business owners.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am endorsed by Sierra club and major unions like AFL-CIO, MEA, UAW and AFSCME.